Israel’s Right-Wing Pressures Netanyahu Over UN Plan’s “Statehood” Talk

A UN Security Council resolution on Gaza, drafted by the US and adopted on Monday, is causing political turmoil in Israel over its inclusion of a “pathway to Palestinian… statehood.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing pressure from right-wing members of his government, was quick to publicly reiterate his opposition to a Palestinian state. This highlights a significant rift between the Israeli government and the long-term political vision outlined in the new resolution.
The resolution’s primary purpose is to endorse President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which authorizes an “international stabilization force” (ISF) to demilitarize Gaza and a “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump, to manage reconstruction. While the Israeli government supports the demilitarization goal, the diplomatic language about statehood has become a major point of contention. The text says “conditions may finally be in place” for statehood after PA reforms and redevelopment, a premise Netanyahu’s coalition rejects.
The US, which included this language, celebrated the resolution’s passage. Ambassador Mike Waltz called it a plan to create a “prosperous and secure” Gaza. President Trump called the vote “historic.” Diplomats suggest the “statehood” language was a crucial inclusion to win the support of the Palestinian Authority. The PA’s endorsement, which was formally given last week, was reportedly “key to preventing a Russian veto.”
That Russian veto never came, but the country did abstain, along with China. Both nations complained that the resolution carves out no role for the UN. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya warned that the council was giving “complete control” to a US-led initiative “on the basis of Washington’s promises.”
While Israel grapples with the political implications, Hamas, the group ruling Gaza, has rejected the plan’s security foundation. Hamas issued a statement calling the plan “international guardianship” and vowing it “will not disarm.” This simultaneous opposition from Hamas on security grounds and from the Israeli right on political grounds leaves the US-led plan trapped between its two most critical actors.