Five years after normalization deals, Netanyahu faces growing pariah status at global stage
Israel was once riding a high. The Abraham Accords had shattered taboos, opening doors to Arab capitals, strategic defense pacts, and glittering economic deals. But as the country stares down a bruising September at the United Nations, where several member states may formally recognize Palestine and push for sanctions, it’s clear something went badly off-script.
This wasn’t inevitable. It was avoidable. And that’s what stings the most, even among Israel’s own diplomats.
Five years of progress, then the unraveling
Back in 2020, the Abraham Accords felt like a seismic diplomatic win. Normalization with the UAE and Bahrain quickly led to trade agreements, military coordination, and cultural exchanges. Morocco and Sudan followed suit. Israel’s flag flew in places it had never been welcome before.
It was a different era. Israel was welcomed into CENTCOM’s strategic orbit. Israeli cyber firms inked deals in Riyadh. Emirati investors bought stakes in Israeli fintechs. Even Qatar, historically hostile, joined U.S.-led security briefings with Israeli generals.
But now? September 2025 may see the very same UN General Assembly that once applauded normalization now punishing Israel for its war in Gaza.
From deterrence to diplomatic damage
Israel’s military victories in early 2025, particularly its defense against Iranian missiles and airstrikes, were tactically impressive. CENTCOM allies, especially the U.S. and France, applauded the coordination and operational discipline.
Yet, those victories were never translated into political capital.
Elie Podeh, a leading historian at Hebrew University, argues that “military deterrence without diplomacy is just noise.” His August 7th op-ed bluntly stated that “bungled diplomacy, not fate, has isolated Israel.”
What went wrong? A few key missteps stand out:
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Failure to initiate ceasefire talks post-Iran attack
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Lack of humanitarian aid visibility in Gaza
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Alienating European partners through dismissive rhetoric
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Undermining Arab moderates who had normalized ties
Those issues weren’t fate. They were choices.
Allies backing away, one press release at a time
Since late June, statements from previously warm partners have started to sour.
Saudi Arabia, once a quiet behind-the-scenes ally, has frozen public engagement. The UAE canceled two planned business forums with Israel in July. Morocco recalled its ambassador. Even Egypt, which relies on Israeli coordination in Sinai, has limited bilateral meetings to “technical levels only.”
Meanwhile, European capitals are inching toward formal recognition of a Palestinian state. Spain and Ireland may present resolutions at the UN. France and Belgium are reportedly considering abstention on sanctions-related language—something unthinkable a year ago.
A senior European diplomat put it plainly: “We didn’t expect Israel to become this tone-deaf, this quickly.”
At the UN: Isolation brewing
With the General Assembly convening in mid-September, Israel’s foreign ministry is scrambling.
Sources tell Bloomberg that at least nine Latin American and African countries are ready to back Palestinian statehood recognition. Several are also discussing limited arms embargoes. Worse still, the Arab League is pushing to table a resolution labeling Israel’s current Gaza operation a “violation of international law.”
And here’s where it gets uncomfortable: the Biden administration is not lobbying as hard as it used to.
One Israeli official confessed, “We’re no longer sure who has our back in New York.”
Netanyahu’s hardline stance divides even inside Israel
Critics argue Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has steered the country into this isolation.
His repeated dismissal of UN reports as “antisemitic fiction,” and refusal to consider an international inquiry into civilian casualties in Gaza, have drawn rebuke not just from abroad, but at home.
President Isaac Herzog has reportedly urged Netanyahu in private to soften Israel’s rhetoric. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is said to be “deeply frustrated” with the collapse of international support.
A few Knesset members have gone further.
“You can’t bomb your way to global legitimacy,” said Yesh Atid lawmaker Meir Cohen during a recent session. “We’re losing friends faster than we’re eliminating threats.”
International support by the numbers
A quick snapshot shows how Israel’s diplomatic standing is eroding across key fronts:
| Region | 2020 (Abraham Accords Year) | 2025 (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| UNGA allies (votes) | ~83 | ~52 (projected) |
| Embassies in Arab world | 4 | 2 (suspended or inactive) |
| Trade MoUs signed | 27 | 11 (since Jan 2024) |
| Major arms deals backed | 6 | 1 (France in March) |
That table reflects a broader truth: Israel’s global momentum has slowed—dramatically.
Still time, but not much
Some diplomats believe all is not lost.
There’s quiet talk in Jerusalem of offering humanitarian concessions in Gaza, allowing European monitors at aid crossings, and re-engaging the African Union via agricultural tech programs. Whether any of this happens before September’s vote remains unclear.
Netanyahu, for now, seems defiant. At a Likud meeting this week, he said, “The world will respect strength. They always do.”
Maybe. But right now, respect seems in short supply.
