Why Israel is a friend of budding autocrats around the world

Why Israel is a friend of budding autocrats around the world Submitted by Antony Loewenstein on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 21:27 As global public opinion turns against Tel Aviv, the Netanyahu regime is ramping up its electoral meddling, from Europe to South America Presidential hopeful Flavio Bolsonaro appears with his wife, Fernanda, during the launch of his candidacy in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 25 July 2026 (Nelson Almeida/AFP) On I have spent more than a decade investigating the Israeli arms and surveillance industries, and have always understood that the Israeli state is far more involved than it publicly admits. The revolving door between the public and private sector is well-known , but how exactly did some of the biggest Israeli companies achieve such incredible access to governments around the world, from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia? Beyond Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spyware diplomacy - a highly effective way to make friends, by offering sophisticated tools to spy on perceived enemies, journalists, human rights workers and even friends - there were always gaps in our knowledge.