A rogues’ gallery of anti-Israel voices around the world

In the US, the Squad monopolizes the anti-Israel spotlight, and President Joe Biden and Senator Chuck Schumer have lurched hard leftward. But a panoply of officials in other countries have also played leading roles, and certain Western European and Latin American politicians have given standout performances. Here is a rogues’ gallery of anti-Israel voices around the world.

Lula da Silva

Title: President of Brazil

Alignment: Far left

Quote: “What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has no parallel in other historical moments. In fact, it did exist when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”

Trend: Lula is Latin America’s torchbearer for leftist ideology, and his anti-Israel stance has influenced other socialist leaders’ attitudes, as seen in Bolivia, Chile, and Colombia. Brazil is a key player on the global stage as a co-founder of the BRICS partnership. It has strong ties with the United States, Europe, and Arab nations alike.

Pedro Sánchez

Title: Prime minister of Spain

Alignment: Socialist

Quote: “What we are seeing in Gaza is not acceptable. The indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, including thousands of boys and girls, is completely unacceptable.”

Trend: When Europe gave support to Israel after October 7, Spain emerged as an early voice of dissent — to the extent that Sánchez earned praise from Hamas. A leading advocate for recognition of a Palestinian state, Sánchez constantly accuses Israel of “excesses.” Like Biden, he is under considerable pressure to maintain this stance to appease his far-left coalition partners.

Alexander De Croo

Title: Prime minister of Belgium

Alignment: Liberal

Quote: “The killing of civilians needs to stop now. Way too many people have died. We cannot accept that a society is destroyed in the way it is being destroyed.”

Trend: Despite projecting a moderate image, De Croo has aligned Belgium with Spain and Ireland in vehemently opposing the IDF offensive.

Josep Borrell

Title: High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union

Alignment: Socialist

Quote: “Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine.”

Trend: Borrell was a longtime Socialist politician in Spain before becoming an EU official. Sad experience has shown that the convergence of “Spanish” and “socialist” produces a predisposition to attack Israel.

Recep Erdogan

Title: President of Turkey

Alignment: Islamist

Quote: “Netanyahu and his government are writing their names next to Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin, like today’s Nazis. Hamas are liberators fighting to protect their land and people.”

Trend: Turkey-Israel relations have been a roller-coaster ride, but it’s been more down than up. Erdogan goes beyond simply condemning Israel to extolling Hamas as “freedom fighters.”

Cyril Ramaphosa

Title: President of South Africa

Alignment: “Committed socialist”

Quote: “South Africa has taken up the Palestinian cause to prevent further deaths and destruction in Gaza.”

Trend: Ramaphosa, who has a personal net worth of $500 million, is equally adept at cozying up to Biden, Putin, King Charles, and Xi Jinping. He can’t seem to solve his country’s endemic poverty, but his influence across Africa is undeniable. He spearheaded the indictment against Israel at the International Court of Justice, perhaps to distract attention from his fortune and government-orchestrated massacres.

Jonas Gahr Støre

Title: Prime minister of Norway

Alignment: Social Democrat

Quote: “Civilians must be taken into account, and humanitarian law is fully aware of that. I believe the line has now been far exceeded by Israel.”

Trend: Nordic countries typically try to maintain proper distance from Mideast conflicts, but Støre’s history with Hamas leadership dates back to 2011. He has persistently advocated for recognition of a Palestinian state.

Humza Yousaf

Title: Prime Minister of Scotland

Alignment: Social Democrat

Quote: “It’s of tantamount importance for every single person to raise their [sic] voice and say that what we’re seeing from Israel, the indiscriminate attacks we’re seeing, go far beyond a legitimate response. They look now like vengeance.”

Trend: Yousaf’s personal connections to the conflict probably obligate him to sit down and be quiet. His wife is the daughter of a Palestinian, with family in Gaza, and his parents, originally from Pakistan, displayed “Free Palestine” signs in their Glasgow offices. He has previously met with Hamas members and has frequently criticized IDF operations in Gaza.

Chris Van Hollen

Title: US Senator from Maryland

Alignment: Democrat

Quote: “The claim that Prime Minister Netanyahu is making, that UNRWA is a proxy for Hamas, is just flat-out lies. Let’s not hold two million innocent Palestinian civilians who are dying of starvation accountable for the bad acts of 14 people.”

Trend: Senator Van Hollen is not as well known as the Squad, but he is one of the loudest voices among Democrats calling on President Biden to withdraw support from Israel. He has repeatedly voted against bills supporting Israel and has demanded that the IDF comply with international human rights law (something it already does) as a condition for continued US military support.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1006)