Why is Israel increasingly compared to Iran — and why is the West no longer silent

In recent months, Israel increasingly finds itself grouped with states that are considered pariahs in the Western political and moral system of coordinates. Comparisons with Iran are becoming louder — not only from radical activists but also in mainstream discussions in the US and Europe. For many Israelis, this seems absurd or a manifestation of hypocrisy. However, the logic of these comparisons, whether liked or not, exists — and it is not reduced to anti-Semitism.

The paradox begins with a simple question: why does the world remain silent about mass repressions, killings, and brutality within Iran, yet constantly makes demands of Israel? The answer is unpleasant because it is not about Iran — it is about expectations from Israel.

Iran is a sovereign authoritarian state that has never claimed to belong to the liberal Western world. Repressions, violence, suppression of protests there are perceived as a tragedy, but not as a violation of a “contract.” No one expected Tehran to uphold human rights, the rule of law, or humanitarian standards. It is harsh, cynical — but consistent.

The situation with Israel is different. For decades, Israel has positioned itself as part of the Western world: a democratic state founded on liberal values, human rights, and independent institutions. That is why it is held to different standards. Criticisms are voiced not because of “hatred of Jews,” but because different behavior was expected.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not perceived in the West as an internal matter of a sovereign state. It concerns control over territories and populations without civil rights and political representation. In this logic, the events are brought into the international arena — just as the wars in the Balkans or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were. This is a key difference that many in Israel prefer to ignore.

The West does not demand Iran to “correct itself” — it has already isolated it. The country lives under strict sanctions, economic restrictions, diplomatic blockade. Iranians pay a personal price for this: inability to use international payment systems, travel restrictions, a ruined economy. This is “punishment without illusions.”

Such logic did not exist for Israel for a long time. On the contrary — Western countries protected it diplomatically, economically, and even militarily. That is why for a significant part of Western society, the current situation looks like a “crime without punishment.” Hence the demands for pressure: not bombings, but sanctions, boycotts, political isolation.

Protests in New York, Berlin, and London with the slogan “not in our name” are not marginal noise. It is a signal: Israel, in the opinion of a significant part of the Western audience, no longer fits into the liberal camp but continues to enjoy its privileges. And this dissonance causes irritation.

In this sense, the comparison with Iran is not a statement of identity, but a warning. As if to say, if you choose the path of force, nationalism, and ignoring external criticism, be prepared for the same consequences. South Africa during apartheid went down this path. Iran still lives in it.

Israel finds itself in a unique position: a Western country by self-perception and Eastern by geography and conflicts. For a long time, the West was willing to overlook the contradictions. After October 7, this credit of trust began to rapidly diminish — not because of “poor hasbara work,” but because of actions on the ground.

The argument “we are right, they just don’t understand us” is well known in the world. It is used by authoritarian leaders from Moscow to Pyongyang. Each has its own “historical justice” and “special path.” But the outcome is almost always the same: isolation, sanctions, pressure on citizens.

This is where the dividing line lies. Iran chose the model of a closed “Sparta” — a state willing to sacrifice the well-being of its population for ideology and control. Israel remains a democracy — with elections, a free economy, personal rights. But the question increasingly asked from outside and within the country is harsh: is Israeli society ready to pay the Iranian price for the political course of its leaders?

Protests in the West are addressed not only to the government but also to society. The message is straightforward: if you insist on the right to ignore liberal norms, do not be surprised that the world will begin to treat you like those who rejected these norms from the start.

This is an unpleasant conversation. It provokes anger, rejection, a defensive reaction. But it is precisely such conversations that today define the international agenda around Israel — and that is why analysts and editors, including NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, return to them again and again.