Stream now with KPBS+ / Watch Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 at 11:30 p.m. on KPBS TV
As allies condemn Israel and recognize Palestine, Israel's war in Gaza is testing its economy and diplomacy. Ian Bremmer speaks with veteran Middle East diplomat Aaron David Miller about Trump's peace plan and Israel's increasingly lonely road.
As more Western allies move to condemn Israel and recognize Palestine, Israel’s war in Gaza is testing its economy and diplomacy. Ian Bremmer speaks with veteran Middle East diplomat Aaron David Miller about Trump’s peace plan and Israel’s increasingly lonely road.
Watch On Your Schedule: Episodes are available to stream with KPBS+
KPBS+ is a new free streaming video app designed for ease and enjoyment everywhere you watch including Roku, smart TVs and mobile devices. It’s locally curated for San Diego by the KPBS programming team. With a clean and intuitive design, discovering and enjoying KPBS and PBS content on-demand has never been easier.
You can also tune in live to watch our four TV channels in real time: KPBS, KPBS 2, Create, KPBS Kids 24/7. We also added a new channel - FNX (First Nation Experience).
Your KPBS Passport member benefit works on KPBS+ too! You’ll have access to even more great shows when you simply log in with your KPBS Passport account.
Israel is stronger than ever militarily—and more isolated than ever diplomatically. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubles down on the war in Gaza and rejects outside pressure, longtime allies are starting to walk away. Japan, Italy, and France have announced arms embargoes. The EU is proposing partial trade sanctions. Even Netanyahu himself admits Israel is entering a “kind of isolation” that could last for years. His solution? Turn Israel into a “super-Sparta”—a self-reliant, hyper-militarized economy capable of standing alone. In the latest edition of Ian Explains, Bremmer breaks down whether that’s a viable strategy or just political defiance. With Israel’s economy slowing to its weakest growth rate in decades, global investment pulling back, and international condemnation mounting, the costs are starting to show. And while US support remains strong for now, Trump’s pivot to Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar signals that even Washington’s patience may have limits. Can Israel afford to go it alone? Or will the pressure—economic, political, and strategic—force a shift in course? The coming months may decide just how much isolation Israel can sustain.
ABOUT THE SERIES: Ian Bremmer, a renowned political scientist, entrepreneur and bestselling author, shares his perspective on recent global events and interviews the world leaders, experts and newsmakers shaping today’s international politics.
Credits: Presented by Creative News Group LLC. Distributed by American Public Television
