Benjamin Netanyahu faces acute political crisis amid US pressure and coalition splits

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confronting a sharp political crisis as he tries to reconcile intense pressure from the United States, represented by President Donald Trump’s administration, with growing dissent inside his governing coalition. Washington is demanding Israel accept a 14‑point Gaza roadmap that includes the deployment of multinational forces, a condition Netanyahu says he cannot reject without jeopardising a White House visit. At the same time, coalition partners such as Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich accuse him of providing inaccurate information and warn that any concession in Gaza would be seen as a defeat by the Israeli public.

The internal turmoil is deepening within the Likud party, where fears of a primary loss are creating a “ground‑shaking” split that could force ministers to break away and seek new alliances. Polls suggest Netanyahu’s bloc may win about 50 seats, but neither the current coalition nor the opposition can form a government without fresh partnerships, echoing the political deadlock that plagued Israel from 2018 to 2022. The United States is also influencing negotiations with Lebanon, offering a political “gift” to the Lebanese government, while Israel continues to block a full withdrawal agreement that could be portrayed as a loss for Israel.