In Hollywood, a letter calling for a boycott of Israeli production companies, festivals and broadcasters “that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people” has attracted more than 4,000 signatures in a week, including household names like Emma Stone and Javier Bardem.
Tzvika Gottlieb, CEO of the Israeli Film and TV Producers Association, called the petition “profoundly misguided”.
“By targeting us – the creators who give voice to diverse narratives and foster dialogue – these signatories are undermining their own cause and attempting to silence us,” he said.
Then there is sport. The Vuelta de Espana cycling race was repeatedly disrupted by groups protesting the presence of the Israel-Premier Tech team, forcing a messy, premature end on Saturday and the cancellation of the podium ceremony.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the protests a source of “pride”, but opposition politicians said government actions had caused international embarrassment.
Also in Spain, seven Israeli chess players withdrew from a tournament after being told they would not be able to compete under their flag.
The Israeli government’s response to what the media have already dubbed a “diplomatic tsunami” has generally been defiant.
Netanyahu accused Spain of a “blatant genocidal threat” after its prime minister said his country, lacking nuclear bombs, aircraft carriers or large oil reserves, was not able to stop Israel’s offensive in Gaza by itself.
After Belgium announced its sanctions, Gideon Saar wrote on X that it was “regrettable that even when Israel is fighting an existential threat, which is in Europe’s vital interest, there are those who can’t resist their anti-Israeli obsession”.
On Monday, Netanuahu said that Israel should reduce the dependence of its industries on trade with other countries, including arms and other defence products.
“We might find ourselves blocked not only in R&D but also in actual industrial production,” he said. “We must start developing our capabilities to rely more on ourselves.”