Politico: Netanyahu’s rejection of Gaza plan raises questions over US influence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of a U.S.-backed 15-point plan for Gaza has raised concerns among some U.S. allies over Washington’s ability to influence Israel and advance its broader Middle East peace efforts.

Diplomats and others familiar with U.S. strategy in the region told POLITICO that Netanyahu’s position has raised doubts over whether the United States has, or is willing to use, sufficient leverage to shape developments in Gaza. They said the concerns could also affect confidence in the Trump administration’s efforts to negotiate agreements elsewhere in the region.

“Netanyahu’s rejection of the peace plan carries significant implications for long-term regional stability and Israeli security,” said an Arab diplomat familiar with U.S. policy in the Middle East. “President Trump is the only one to have the potential to influence this situation, as he could seek to reassert his political relevance by pressuring Netanyahu to reconsider his position.”

Netanyahu rejected the White House-backed plan on August 8, saying Israel requires Hamas to be “genuinely disarmed” before Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza.

His position could further challenge the viability of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, a 27-country initiative established as part of his plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

A Western diplomat familiar with Middle East policy said Netanyahu’s rejection demonstrated what the diplomat described as flaws in Washington’s approach to Israel.

“This latest rejection once again shows that appeasing Israel only leads to more maximalist demands,” the diplomat said. “I don’t think it kills the [Board of Peace] but what it does do is once again show that Israel remains one of the obstacles to a viable two-state solution.”

The Trump administration, however, has rejected the suggestion that Netanyahu’s position has derailed the peace process.

“Broadly speaking, we see this as election-posturing by Bibi for a domestic audience,” a Trump administration official said. “The [Board of Peace] has actually been getting good cooperation on the ground as of late. So that’s what’s important.”

The official spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

By Sabina Mammadli