Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear on Sunday that Israel does not accept the 15-point roadmap for advancing President Donald Trump’s peace plan in Gaza. The Israeli army will not withdraw until Hamas is truly and completely disarmed, he stressed.
“Israel does not accept the 15-point roadmap,” Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. He was responding to reports in recent days which, in his words, had given the impression of Israeli weakness and Israeli withdrawals on various fronts.
Since it had been claimed that Netanyahu had not explicitly stated Israel’s rejection of the scheme, the prime minister reiterated his position: “Israel does not accept the 15-point roadmap.”
Netanyahu also clearly outlined Israel’s conditions for an IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The army will not withdraw until Hamas is disarmed. This does not refer merely to specific weapons systems. “When I speak of disarming Hamas, I mean heavy weapons, lighter weapons, all weapons,” Netanyahu said. Israel demands “genuine disarmament, not a fictitious disarmament.”
According to the prime minister, Israel is currently holding talks with the United States on this issue. The Americans have presented proposals, “some of which are acceptable to us and others not.” Israel knows how to stand firm on such issues and has proven this in the past.
Netanyahu also emphasized that the IDF would continue to take action against threats to Israeli soldiers and the Israeli population.
Netanyahu also addressed the political future of the Palestinian territories in general terms. “As long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established – neither in Gaza nor in Judea and Samaria,” he declared. There will be neither a “Fatahstan” nor a “Hamastan.”
Iran and Lebanon
At the beginning of his remarks, Netanyahu also addressed Iran. He stated that Iran attacks countries in the region and beyond, but has not yet attacked Israel. The prime minister cited Israeli deterrence as the reason for this. Tehran knows what a “massive blow” Israel would inflict upon it in the event of an attack.
At the same time, Netanyahu praised Trump as one of Israel’s greatest friends in the White House and highlighted the historic cooperation with the United States against Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
He made it clear that Israel’s position would remain unchanged regardless of any potential agreement with Tehran. As long as he was prime minister, Iran would not possess a nuclear weapon. “The existence of our precious country, the country of us all, the existence of Israel, is not up for negotiation,” Netanyahu said.
He also addressed the situation in Lebanon, stating that Israel had acted with great force there in recent days, eliminating terrorists, including those on the Ali Taher Ridge. He did not provide further details, merely stating that Israel was in the midst of a “very important operation.” He added that Israel was acting prudently and decisively in cooperation with the IDF and was eliminating threats.
Netanyahu ultimately dismissed reports of Israeli weakness and retreats. As examples of Israeli resolve, he cited the invasion of Rafah and the Philadelphia Corridor, the operations in Lebanon, the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the destruction of its missile arsenal, as well as the two Israeli attacks on Iran.
“The existence of Israel and the security of all Israeli citizens are not up for negotiation,” the prime minister declared. Israel knows how to defend its interests and can, if necessary, assert its position even against its closest friends.
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