Here’s a look at some of the countries ganging up against Israel

Diplomatic Firestorm   

Ever since October 7, Western leaders have vacillated between support for the Jewish state and appeasing their own electorates. Politicians playing armchair military tacticians have decried the official death tolls coming out of the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry and solemnly intoned that “Israel has the right to defend itself, but this is a step too far.” “This” being the IDF’s attempts to rid Gaza of its terrorist overlords.

With Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza and its blockade of humanitarian aid into the Strip, the criticism has reached fever pitch. The chorus of condemnation, which chose Hamas over Israel, has had deadly consequences, when a gunman shot two Israeli embassy staff dead in Washington, D.C., shouting “Free Palestine!” Hardly surprising, when the Western world has sided with a terrorist group over the democracy trying to vanquish it. Here’s a look at some of the countries ganging up against Israel.

United Kingdom

Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a formal statement to MPs, placing the blame for the situation in Gaza squarely at Israel’s door, calling it “morally wrong.” He suspended trade negotiations with Israel, announced sanctions on West Bank settlers, and summoned Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely to the Foreign Office for a dressing down. The UK also issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s actions, alongside Canada and France.

France

President Emmanuel Macron has a history of clashing with Netanyahu. Last year, he called for a halt of arms deliveries to Israel, and last month he floated the idea of formal recognition of a Palestinian state. He’s since called the aid blockade “unacceptable” and “shameful,” urged Trump to pressure Netanyahu to reverse course, and said Europeans should consider increasing sanctions.

Canada

Newly elected Liberal leader Mark Carney has wasted no time in burnishing his pro-Palestine credentials. During his campaign, when confronted by a pro-Palestinian heckler who accused Israel of genocide, he responded, “I know. That’s why we have an arms embargo.” (He later claimed he misheard the question.) Twenty of his party’s candidates endorsed a virulently anti-Israel platform, including a two-way arms embargo, recognition of a Palestinian state, and a boycott of all Israeli settlements in disputed territories. Foreign Minister Anita Anand has summoned the Israel ambassador over shots fired at a diplomatic delegation, which included Canadians.

The Netherlands

It’s Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp leading the call for the EU to review its political and economic partnership with Israel. After right-wing hardliner Geert Wilders condemned a 100,000-strong Pro-Palestine march through The Hague, Democrats 66 party leader Rob Jetten accused the pro-Israel lawmaker of “sowing senseless division.” Veldkamp has also criticized prioritization of fighting Hamas over negotiating a ceasefire that would release the remaining hostages.

Denmark Delays Retirement

Aging societies who live longer are a public policy puzzle to frazzle even the best economic minds. A shrinking working-age population means fewer taxpayers to support an ever-increasing and longer-living demographic of economic dependents, so raising the retirement age as people are healthier for longer seems the obvious choice.

But such a move is politically risky. Almost-pensioners feel they’re only getting their fair share, after decades of paying taxes, and a generation of workers whose vacation has been deferred by a year can be an angry and forceful lobby indeed.

But Denmark has decided to bite the bullet, and raise the retirement age to 70, the highest in Europe, by 2040. Blue-collar workers are unhappy; manual labor in late middle age is different from a desk job, and trade unions have criticized the move. But the law passed by 81-21. French president Emmanuel Macron can only look on in envy; when France raised its retirement age from 62 to 64 in 2023, it sparked weeks of protests and riots, forcing Macron to push the bill through parliament without a vote.

The Penny Has Dropped

The US Treasury has confirmed it will end production of the penny. In circulation since 1793, the humble copper now costs 3.7 cents to produce, almost four times its face value. It’s part of the DOGE savings program, with the Mint estimating it will save $56 million annually in production costs. The move has been hailed by some, who say it will stop wasting resources, but critics say it helps keep prices lower, and boosts fundraising for charities, many of whom rely on many small donations. The penny is another casualty of the relentless march of technology, which has transformed most developed countries into cashless societies.

25.5%

That’s the proportion of Israeli auto imports in the first quarter of 2025 from China, the highest in the developed world. Unlike the EU and US, who are looking to protect their domestic carmakers from Chinese competition, Israel has embraced Chinese imports, and is also the developed country with the largest range of Chinese brands on sale — 21.

Against the Grain

Questions on the cost of living are always sticky for politicians, who are usually accused of being out of touch with the common voter’s struggles, so they generally steer clear of the minefield. Not so Japan’s farming minister Taku Eto, who joked at a local fundraiser that he never had to buy rice, the price of which has doubled in the past year, because his supporters give him plenty of it. To a public already struggling with a severe cost-of-living crisis that has hit its staple grain particularly hard, it was beyond tone deaf. Following widespread outrage, Eto resigned, further destabilizing embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government.

“Grow up.”

Australian anchor Karl Stefanovic admonishing the Liberal and National parties, who ended their coalition agreement after they both got thrashed in the election earlier this month, and couldn’t agree on a joint strategy
of recovery.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1063)