Why Netanyahu Publicly Rejected Trump's Plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected US President Donald Trump's 15-point Gaza plan. According to the US media, this was the least bad option for Netanyahu.Netanyahu stated in the opening speech of the Israeli Cabinet meeting, 'To be clear: Israel does not accept the 15-point document,' and repeated this statement shortly after:

I've heard people say 'You didn't say that.' Let me say it again: Israel does not accept the 15-point document.

According to analyses, hopes that Netanyahu could be persuaded to join such an initiative now seem completely unrealistic. With less than 12 weeks to go before the general election in Israel, public opinion polls indicate that Netanyahu is struggling to regain power.In Israel, no prime minister can form a government alone, and a coalition of multiple parties is required after the elections. An important part of Netanyahu's political strategy is to lay the foundations for a coalition that can keep him in power before the election, rather than waiting for after the election.Therefore, the open criticism of Trump's Gaza plan by his conservative allies poses significant political pressure on Netanyahu. Needing the support of extremists to maintain his coalition, Netanyahu believes that appearing to take a step back on Gaza could result in a heavy political cost before the election.