The American decision not to veto a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza — the first time since the beginning of the war that it had allowed such a resolution to pass — sent shock waves through Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu’s subsequent cancellation of a planned Israeli meeting with the Biden administration in Washington only heightened the impression that Israel had been left isolated in the international arena and that Netanyahu was jeopardizing the country’s most important asset: its alliance with the United States.
Yet, though there was widespread criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of these sensitive issues, even his opponents — both in the “liberal” camp and on the moderate right — were unanimous in their rejection of the UN vote. Yair Lapid, head of the opposition Yesh Atid party, said that the resolution was “dangerous, unfair, and Israel will not accept it.” Minister Hili Tropper, a close ally of Netanyahu’s rival Benny Gantz — who polls show would win handily if an election were held today — said, “The war must not stop.” These comments did not differ greatly from the angry reactions by extreme-right leaders such as Bezalel Smotrich or Itamar Ben Gvir.
This near-unanimous rejection of a ceasefire mirrors the cross-party support for an invasion of the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, even though Netanyahu does not claim that the operation will achieve the long-awaited “total victory” he has promised.