Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu found himself in hot water this week when his far-right coalition allies staged protests over a U.S.-backed UN draft supporting a path to Palestinian statehood. 👀
Here's the timeline:
- November 7: The UN Security Council kicked off negotiations on a draft resolution that would adopt President Trump's 20-point Gaza plan, including an Board of Peace transitional administration for reconstruction and recovery in Gaza. 🌍
- November 15: Far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich demanded Netanyahu publicly reject any roadmap to statehood, warning they'd quit the coalition if he didn't. 🚨
- November 16: Netanyahu snapped back, stating that Israel's stance against a Palestinian state in any territory remains unchanged, and vowed to demilitarize Gaza and disarm Hamas the easy way or the hard way. 💥
The showdown highlights the fragility of Netanyahu's coalition, which blends traditional conservatives with ultra-nationalists. If Ben-Gvir or Smotrich actually walk out, his government could collapse well before elections are due by October 2026.
On Sunday, both Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also voiced opposition to Palestinian statehood on social media, underscoring the unified hard-line stance among Israel's right wing.
Netanyahu had embraced Trump's Gaza plan during his White House visit in September, but until this week, he'd stayed silent on the statehood question. Meanwhile, countries like France formally recognized a Palestinian state in September, putting additional pressure on Israel.
With tensions soaring, all eyes are on whether Netanyahu can keep his coalition intact or if this far-right revolt marks the beginning of the end for his current government. 🤔
Reference(s):
Netanyahu faces far-right backlash over U.S.-backed Palestinian plan
cgtn.com
