Far right coalition refuses to participate in Knesset vote supporting Trump's Gaza plan while opposition seeks to humiliate Netanyahu

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition opted to avoid a Knesset vote endorsing US President Donald Trumps 20-point plan for Gaza. The motion, introduced by opposition leader Yair Lapid, passed with 39 votes in favor and none against.

As debate on the proposal began, members of Netanyahus far-right coalition quickly exited the Knesset chamber, leaving the floor largely empty ahead of the vote. I am surprised and disappointed that Prime Minister Netanyahu is absent, Lapid remarked at the start of the session. This was an opportunity for the Knesset to unite behind a common goal and show support to President Trump and the world. Netanyahu chose to boycott it, which is regrettable.

The measure, largely symbolic, affirms that the Israeli Knesset decides to accept and adopt the 20-point plan of US President Trump. Opposition sources stated that the vote was designed to publicly challenge Netanyahu and highlight internal divisions within his far-right coalition.

After passing in the Knesset plenary, the proposal will move to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, where Netanyahus allies are expected to stall it. While Netanyahu endorsed the plan during his September 2025 visit to the White House and welcomed its UN Security Council adoption in November, the Cabinet has never formally approved the full plan beyond the first phase of the ceasefire. This initial phase involved a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the return of hostages, along with the release of certain Palestinian prisoners.

The second phase of the ceasefire plan envisions a route toward Palestinian self-determination and eventual governance of Gaza by a reformed Palestinian Authority. However, Netanyahu has consistently stated he will not permit the creation of a Palestinian state, and far-right coalition ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have rejected the plan. In November, Smotrich urged Netanyahu to make clear to the world that a Palestinian state will never be established in our homeland.

Instead of voting against the proposal, Netanyahus coalition walked out, allowing it to pass with opposition backing. Coalition sources indicated that internal discussions took place in recent days regarding the vote strategy, though Netanyahu has not publicly commented.

Prior to the vote, Lapid called on X for unity and expected Netanyahu to direct his members to support the proposal. This approach mirrors a previous incident in October when the opposition used a similar tactic to secure preliminary approval for a bill on Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank, which passed narrowly despite Netanyahus opposition. US officials, including then-Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, criticized that move as counterproductive to peace efforts, and Trump warned that annexation could jeopardize US support for Israel.

Following the US backlash, Netanyahu labeled the October vote a deliberate political provocation and instructed his coalition not to advance annexation-related legislation.

Author: Logan Reeves