Overview
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reaffirm U.S. commitment and push implementation of President Trump’s Gaza plan.
- A brief, no-questions press appearance followed, with Rubio citing “substantial obstacles” even as he expressed confidence about progress.
- The Knesset passed a first vote 25–24 to advance West Bank annexation bills, drawing a sharp public rebuke from Vice President JD Vance.
- Netanyahu distanced himself from the bills, calling them a political provocation by opposition lawmakers and saying they are unlikely to advance without Likud support.
- President Trump said in an interview published Thursday that U.S. support would be withdrawn if Israel attempted annexation, and an anonymous U.S. official was quoted by The Times of Israel warning Netanyahu not to jeopardize the Gaza deal.