Israel Ultra-right increases pressure on Netanyahu ahead of Trump meeting
Ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday, ultra-right coalition partners and settler representatives are increasing the pressure on the Israeli head of government. They urged Netanyahu to annex parts of the occupied West Bank and not to end the war in the Gaza Strip without a complete military defeat of the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas, reported the Times of Israel.
28.09.2025, 11:19
28.09.2025, 11:20
SDA
Trump had recently emphasized that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. The Palestinians claim the territory as part of a future independent state.
Trump will present Netanyahu with Gaza peace plan
At a meeting with the White House on Monday, Trump intends to present Netanyahu with a 21-point plan for an end to the Gaza war, which has been raging for almost two years, according to media reports. The plan envisages the immediate release of the remaining Hamas hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the coastal strip.
Hamas should no longer play a role in the Gaza Strip, but Israel must not annex the territory either. Instead, there is to be a transitional government. A path to a future Palestinian state as a result of peace negotiations mediated by the US is also reportedly on the cards. However, Netanyahu has so far vehemently rejected this.
Strong resistance from ultra-right partners
The far-right Israeli police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on Platform X that Netanyahu has no mandate to end the war without an absolute victory over Hamas.
According to the Israeli TV channel N12, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made three key demands with regard to Trump's plan: The Palestinian Authority must not be allowed to play a role, Hamas must be completely disarmed, and Israel must annex parts of the West Bank without recognizing a Palestinian state. However, this would mean the end of the two-state solution in the Middle East sought by the international community. In order to remain in power, Netanyahu is dependent on his ultra-right coalition partners.
