Netanyahu goes all in on Trump: Accepts Gaza deal, shifts to Saudi Arabia and Iran
Netanyahu did everything within his power to delay the deal in the months leading up to the US presidential elections. Diplomatic sources say the Israeli premier was eager to hand Donald Trump credit for the ceasefire.
TEL AVIV — A day and a half after the announcement of an agreement to end the Gaza war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the security cabinet on Friday and approved the deal concluded in Doha with Hamas, which entails a 42-day ceasefire along with the release of dozens of Israeli hostages and thousands of Palestinians jailed in Israel.
The full government is expected to approve next, although Netanyahu's hard-line coalition partners have announced that they will vote against it.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the ultra-right Jewish Power, announced on Thursday evening that if the government approves the deal, he and his Knesset members will resign. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, announced that he and his party will walk out unless Israel resumes fighting after the hostages are released. The Ynet news site reported Friday that Netanyahu has promised Smotrich that the government's approval will include a provision stating that Israel can resume fighting once the hostages are returned and the 42-day ceasefire expires.
Eager to hand it to Trump
