White House envoy's Israel visit fails to sway Netanyahu on Gaza peace plan

On Monday, White House Middle East envoy Jared Kushner traveled to Israel and held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, focusing on President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. Netanyahu rejected the proposal last week after Hamas indicated acceptance, maintaining his demand that Hamas disarm before any Israeli concessions. Kushner later described the meeting as positive, though substantive progress was lacking.

The analysis argues that Netanyahu’s refusal serves his political strategy, portraying himself as the nation’s security chief before the October vote, with opinion polls showing a sizable portion of Israelis opposing a Gaza deal and favoring continued military action. While the war economy lifts defense stocks and the shekel, the OECD cautions that intensified conflict would impose large fiscal costs. The author concludes that White House envoys are unlikely to change Netanyahu’s hardline position.