Netanyahu Coalition Boycotts Knesset Vote on Trump’s Gaza Plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition members boycotted a Knesset vote on October 4, 2023, which endorsed a plan for Gaza proposed by US President Donald Trump. The motion, led by opposition leader Yair Lapid, received overwhelming support, passing with 39 votes in favor and no opposition. As the vote approached, Netanyahu’s coalition hastily exited the Knesset plenum, avoiding what many viewed as an embarrassment for the Prime Minister.

During the debate, Lapid expressed surprise at Netanyahu’s absence, stating, “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.”

The motion is largely symbolic, declaring that “the Israeli Knesset decides to accept and adopt the 20-point plan of US President Trump.” According to sources within the Israeli opposition, this maneuver aimed to challenge Netanyahu and expose divisions within his far-right coalition. The proposal will now move to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, where it is expected to face significant hurdles.

Netanyahu had publicly supported the plan during his visit to the White House in September 2025, and the UN Security Council adopted it in November. The plan involves two phases, the first of which includes a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the return of hostages. It also proposes the release of Palestinian prisoners and sets the stage for Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

Despite this endorsement, Netanyahu has consistently asserted that he will not permit the establishment of a Palestinian state. His coalition partners, particularly far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have openly rejected the Trump plan. Smotrich demanded on social media that Netanyahu “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.”

Earlier, Ben Gvir declared that his faction would vote against Lapid’s motion, stating, “We will certainly vote against – if Lapid wants to embarrass the state, that’s his business. A Palestinian state will not be established,” as echoed by Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu on Israel’s Army Radio.

Instead of casting votes, Netanyahu’s coalition members left the room, enabling the opposition to secure the proposal’s passage. Although Netanyahu has not publicly commented on this specific vote, two sources within his coalition indicated that internal discussions were underway in the days leading up to the motion.

Lapid had previously indicated on social media that the vote should symbolize unity among Israeli lawmakers, reflecting public support for Trump’s efforts. This tactic mirrors a controversial situation from October, when the Knesset narrowly approved a motion to assert Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank during the visit of US Vice President JD Vance. That measure also passed by a slim margin, despite Netanyahu’s request to withdraw it.

In response to the October vote, Vance condemned it as an “insult” and a “very stupid political stunt,” while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled it “counterproductive” and “even threatening” to the Gaza peace plan. Trump warned in an interview that Israeli annexation would result in the loss of US support. Following these criticisms, Netanyahu’s office characterized the vote as a “deliberate political provocation,” prompting the Prime Minister to instruct coalition members not to advance related legislation.

The current dynamics in Israeli politics underscore the tensions within Netanyahu’s coalition and the challenges facing any potential peace initiatives regarding Gaza. As the situation evolves, the implications for both domestic politics and international relations remain significant.