Yedioth Ahronoth: "A predictable setback in Gaza" - "Israel's growing isolation".

The two reports published today in Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynetnews have pointed out that the last few months have not been good ones for Israel (see “A predictable setback in Gaza“ and “Israel’s growing isolation.” ) They explain that the situation in Israel has not gone according to plan. At one point, it had been predicted by the Israeli Intelligence community that the fears of Sunni Muslim majority countries, in the face of the Iranian Shia threat, would lead to a renewal of Arab ties with Israel. However, Operation Cast Lead has completely turned this prediction on its head. The Gaza Massacre has resulted instead, in Israel’s growing isolation from the Arab world. After witnessing the carnage wrought by Operation Cast Lead on the Palestinian civilian population via their Arabic satellite stations, the massacre only served to infuriate the Arab world with Israel and has resulted in an upsurge of support for the Palestinian cause. This increasing hostility towards Israel is not just an Arab phenomenon but is spreading throughout the world, especially throughout Asia, where there are large Muslim majority populations.

Israel’s isolation has also been fueled by the resultant Goldstone Report, which they refer to as a terrible “indictment against Israel – among the gravest ever drafted – [which] will hurt us for years to come.” Israel’s isolation has been further compounded by the massive increase in the number of settlements being constructed under the Netanyahu government and the world’s gradual realisation that even Obama’s “US administration is failing to elicit Israeli concessions.”

It is conceded that Operation Cast Lead essentially failed. It did not secure the release of Gilad Shalit, nor did it succeed in toppling Hamas, it has only served to infuriate the world with Israel and has led to a global call for boycotts and embargos. They further point out that the nightmare of “international arrest warrants for some of Israel’s leaders during the Gaza operation is no longer a bad dream” but a reality. Israel’s growing treatment as a “pariah state” is so bad that it has even led some Israelis to wistfully look back to the days when they were led by Ariel Sharon.

As the report “A predictable setback in Gaza” states, “Our diplomatic standing had not been so lowly for years, and at the end of the day we may very well end up at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.”