Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian Authority Role Ahead of Key U.S. Talks

On the eve of his critical White House meeting with President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has doubled down on his rejection of any role for the Palestinian Authority (PA) in governing a post-war Gaza. This hardline stance presents a major obstacle to the U.S.-led peace plan that will be the focus of their discussions on Monday.
During a recent interview, Netanyahu expressed deep skepticism that the Ramallah-based PA could ever be sufficiently reformed to manage Gaza responsibly. “It is less likely that PA will change completely and accept a Jewish state,” he stated, effectively closing the door on a key component of the American proposal for the “day after” the conflict.
The U.S. plan, reportedly backed by Gulf nations, envisions a UN-supported transitional body that would eventually hand over control to a revitalized PA. This is seen by Washington and its Arab partners as the only viable path toward a long-term, stable political solution for the Palestinian territory.
Netanyahu’s firm opposition creates a fundamental deadlock. His position is rooted in the PA’s loss of Gaza to Hamas in 2007 and what he sees as its ongoing failure to foster peace. By ruling out the PA, he is challenging the very foundation of the international community’s strategy for post-war reconstruction and governance.
This disagreement will be a central and contentious point in his meeting with Trump. The U.S. President, who is pushing for a comprehensive deal that includes a political horizon for Palestinians, must now find a way to overcome Netanyahu’s deep-seated opposition if his broader peace initiative is to have any chance of success.