Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s choice to boycott a pivotal Knesset vote was instructive. This vote was about a blueprint on Gaza released last year by then President Donald Trump. This decision played out against a backdrop of intensifying discord in his coalition government, including notably the backlash from far-right ministers who publicly decried the proposal. The outcome Opposition leader Yair Lapid took advantage of the vote’s symbolic character as a prime opportunity. Through this, he sought to embarrass Netanyahu and shake the foundations of his coalition’s stability.
In the days leading up, tensions inside Netanyahu’s coalition boiled over as members within the right-wing alliance argued over how to vote. Two sources close to the coalition disclosed to CNN that these internal deliberations were critical in shaping the final decision. Despite the enormous political ramifications of the vote, Netanyahu [bold]did not make a public statement[/bold] opposing Lapid’s motion. Sánchez as a result ordered his coalition whip not to advance any annexation bill. This expansion is an indicator that he wants to steer the contentious political seas carefully.
Netanyahu has repeatedly and unequivocally stated that he will not permit the creation of a Palestinian state. He punctuated this stance by personally endorsing Trump’s plan in front of cameras at the White House in September 2025. He welcomed the UN Security Council’s adoption of the plan last November. It’s no surprise then that this move aligned perfectly with Trump’s top vision for the region. His coalition partners – far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich – balked on the plan, putting Netanyahu in a difficult position.
As the Knesset vote approached, members of Netanyahu’s coalition stormed out of the plenum. Their rapid departure was a sure sign of total defeat of their proposal. Lapid criticized Netanyahu’s absence, stating, “I admit that I am surprised and disappointed that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not here.” He expressed that the vote represented an opportunity for unity among Knesset members in support of Trump’s 20-point plan and lamented that Netanyahu chose not to participate.
“This is the first opportunity given to us as a Knesset to say to President Trump, to say to the world, to say to ourselves – we are uniting around a common goal. Netanyahu chose to boycott the vote and not come here. It’s a shame.” – Yair Lapid
The dynamics within Netanyahu’s coalition have recently grown more tense and contentious. Despite Netanyahu’s request to withdraw a related bill in October, rebellious right-wing lawmakers defied him, insisting they would oppose Lapid’s motion. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu reaffirmed their stance, stating, “We will certainly vote against – if Lapid wants to embarrass the state, that’s his business. A Palestinian state will not be established.”
Smotrich stressed the importance of a disproportionate response, an action that would signal Israel’s rejection of Palestinian statehood. He stated that it was imperative to “immediately formulate an appropriate and decisive response that will make it clear to the entire world – a Palestinian state will never be established in our homeland.”
In a wide-ranging October interview with right-wing podcaster Joe Rogan, Trump gave an ominous preview. He warned that if Israel went ahead with any annexation plans, it would be risking losing the United States’ support entirely. Such statements heighten the stakes for Netanyahu as he navigates between adhering to Trump’s policies and managing his coalition’s far-right elements.
