Trump says relationship is good even as Netanyahu rejects Gaza peace plan
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- U.S. President Donald Trump stated his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "very good" despite Netanyahu's rejection of a Gaza peace plan.
- Netanyahu formally rejected the 15-point peace plan, which called for Israeli troop withdrawal in tandem with Hamas disarmament.
- The plan, proposed by the U.S.-led Board of Peace, faces internal opposition within Netanyahu's right-wing base and cabinet.
United States President Donald Trump asserted that his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains "very good," even as Netanyahu has definitively rejected a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza. The plan, drafted by the U.S.-led Board of Peace, outlines a phased approach involving Israeli troop withdrawal and disarmament by Hamas.
The relationship is very good.
Netanyahu formally announced his opposition to the 15-point plan on Sunday, breaking a week of escalating criticism. The plan had called for Israel to begin pulling back its forces concurrently with Hamas surrendering its weapons to a new Palestinian governing body. This move by Netanyahu signals a significant public policy divergence between the U.S. and Israel regarding strategies for the conflict.
Trump's comments came at the end of an Oval Office event when a journalist shouted a question about Netanyahu's dismissal of the plan. The Israeli prime minister had previously remained silent on the draft, only later acknowledging its existence and stating his disagreement. However, Sunday marked his first formal declaration of refusal to endorse the blueprint.
The Israeli army will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed… and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens.
Netanyahu stated that the Israeli army "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." He added that Israel is "talking to the Americans about this issue" and vowed that "no Palestinian state will arise as long as I am prime minister." Reports from Washington suggest Netanyahu is playing a "very dangerous game," as Israel's international standing, particularly within the Democratic Party, is reportedly shifting towards the Palestinian cause.
No Palestinian state will arise as long as I am prime minister.
A Board of Peace official, speaking to Reuters, confirmed on Monday that the Gaza plan is still operative. The official emphasized that the process relies on "implementation and verification on the ground" and that discussions with Israel are ongoing. The framework is designed for each stage to proceed only after required commitments are met, with the roadmap existing between the Board of Peace and Hamas.
The process is based on implementation and verification on the ground.
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Originally published by Al Jazeera. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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