European Diplomat Warns of "Tsunami of Sanctions" Against Israel Post-Election

A senior European diplomat, speaking anonymously, has issued a stark warning about unprecedented European anger towards Israel, stating that the current Israeli government has caused severe damage in a short time. He criticized Israel's inaction against settler violence in the West Bank, noting that despite years of discussion, the situation has worsened, alongside increased settlement construction. The diplomat questioned why Israel isn't acting against this violence, which he argued is detrimental to Israel itself.

He challenged Prime Minister Netanyahu's characterization of violent settlers as a "handful," asserting that it's widely known to be more, and questioned why the Israeli military cannot apprehend them. The diplomat highlighted the displacement of thousands of Palestinians and stated that terrible events are occurring in the West Bank with the Israeli government's consent or deliberate inaction. He questioned whether Israel's "friends" would passively watch these events unfold.

The diplomat emphasized Israel's increasing isolation, citing recent actions by the UK and 12 other countries against settlements, which the US did not condemn. He warned that European countries, which had held back on imposing sanctions due to Israel's elections, would now move forward aggressively, predicting a "tsunami of sanctions" if the current situation persists. He also cautioned that Israel is on a path to becoming an apartheid state like South Africa if current trends continue.

Furthermore, the diplomat expressed concern that Israel's retaliatory measures against European nations, such as those taken by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar against the UK and the Netherlands, are fueling anger and will provoke a harsh response. He asserted that Europe's ability to harm Israel far exceeds Israel's ability to harm Europe, stressing Israel's greater dependence on European security. He specifically mentioned the closure of the British Consulate in Jerusalem with only one month's notice, a move he deemed unacceptable and a violation of diplomatic norms, contrasting it with Russia's four-month notice for a similar action.

The diplomat suggested that Israel's harsh punitive actions against Europeans might be driven by internal political considerations to appease its base, rather than genuine security concerns. He concluded by urging Israelis to recognize the damage being inflicted by their current government, citing ministers like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich acting unchecked by Prime Minister Netanyahu.