'No surprise': Netanyahu rejects US backed Gaza plan Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of the US backed Gaza plan has sparked frustration among Palestinians.
The Israeli prime minister's decision is hardly surprising, given Israel's long history of violating past agreements. This pattern of rejection has become all too familiar in Middle East politics.
Since 2005, Israel has withdrawn its settlements from Gaza but maintained control over its borders and airspace, crippling the territory's economy, which relies heavily on international aid.