Israel's Fortress in Europe Crumbles
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ROME – Italy’s decision to stop all arms sales to Israel represents the latest indication of the increasingly evident rift between Israel and Europe, which was once its main ally. If this continues, the fracture could become a diplomatic shock.
Israel is currently facing unprecedented diplomatic isolation across Europe, a region that has long been its largest trading partner and primary source of political and ideological support. That relationship has begun to fray, particularly since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took power in his latest term with Israel’s most right-wing coalition to date.
The initial tensions were related to the Netanyahu government’s judicial overhaul and West Bank annexation. Those disputes evolved into a major crisis after the genocide in Gaza began in October 2023. Subsequent differences arose over attacks on Lebanon and Europe’s reluctance to join the US-Israel assault on Iran.
At present, several European allies have suspended defence relations, imposed embargoes, frozen programmes such as Horizon Europe, and engaged in highly sharp public disputes.
Spain has emerged at the forefront of European opposition. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Madrid has recognised the Palestinian state and consistently criticised Israel’s military operations.
Sánchez has accused Israel of violating international law and urged the European Union to suspend the Association Agreement with Israel, arguing that this would end what he calls its “impunity for criminal actions”.
Spain has also imposed an arms embargo and taken firm steps by closing its airspace to US fighter jets linked to the Iran conflict.
In retaliation, Netanyahu dismissed Spain’s representative from the Civil-Military Coordination Centre in Kiryat Gat, a US-established facility overseeing humanitarian aid and ceasefire coordination in Gaza. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Spain of promoting “defamation” and showing “obsessive anti-Israel bias”.
France has taken a similarly hard stance. Like Spain, the country has recognised Palestinian statehood, banned Israeli companies from attending major defence exhibitions, and refused overflight rights to US planes carrying ammunition for Israel.
Israel responded by completely halting all defence procurements from France. The Israeli military has also severed professional ties with the French military and is now seeking partners more willing to accept such agreements.
Tensions have also extended to the diplomatic sphere, with Israel blocking France’s participation in mediation efforts with Lebanon and labelling Paris an “unfair mediator”. Although defence trade between the two countries has declined, the growing divide in society underscores the depth of this fracture.