Israeli ministers threaten coalition collapse over Palestinian statehood

Far-right Israeli ministers have issued a coalition collapse threat against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if his government accepts any peace framework involving Palestinian statehood. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both prominent opponents of Palestinian sovereignty, demanded Netanyahu publicly reject the two-state solution principle contained in a US-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution concerning Gaza's post-ceasefire future.

Ministerial Ultimatums and Coalition Dynamics

Minister Ben-Gvir explicitly warned that "we will not be part of any government that accepts such a solution," directly threatening the stability of Netanyahu's governing coalition. Minister Smotrich criticized Netanyahu through social media, reminding the Prime Minister of his previous commitments against Palestinian state recognition and asserting that recent developments represent "your responsibility," indicating growing tensions within the Israeli government's right-wing faction.

US Diplomatic Initiatives and Israeli Concerns

The political crisis emerges alongside reports that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff plans to meet with Hamas official Dr. Halil al-Hayye, creating additional consternation in Tel Aviv. According to Israeli media sources cited by Walla news agency, this planned US-Hamas engagement is perceived as a "Witkoff-Hamas rapprochement" generating significant concern within Israeli security circles about potential normalization of relations with the Palestinian organization.

UN Resolution Context and Regional Implications

The US-drafted Security Council resolution proposes establishing an international stabilization force in Gaza and references a two-state solution framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Defense Minister Yisrael Katz has joined other ministers in rejecting Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu's continued silence on specifically renouncing the two-state solution has drawn attention and appears to be contributing to the current governmental crisis.