A Wall of Skepticism: Netanyahu’s Distrust Poses Threat to Gaza Peace Deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is bringing a wall of skepticism with him to the White House on Monday, with his profound distrust of the Palestinian Authority and international bodies posing the single greatest threat to President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace deal. Overcoming this deep-seated wariness will be the key to any diplomatic breakthrough.
The U.S. plan is built on a foundation of managed trust—trust in a transitional authority, trust in international partners, and ultimately, trust in a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern responsibly. This is a foundation that Netanyahu does not share. His entire political worldview is shaped by a belief in self-reliance and skepticism toward arrangements that depend on the goodwill of others.
He has been explicit in his rejection of the PA, telling interviewers he does not believe it can be reformed or trusted to accept Israel’s existence. He views the U.S. plan to eventually hand Gaza to the PA as a dangerous gamble that would recreate the security threat that led to the current war.
This skepticism is not limited to the PA. Netanyahu has often had a contentious relationship with the United Nations and other international organizations, which he frequently accuses of anti-Israel bias. The idea of placing Gaza’s future in the hands of a UN-backed body is therefore deeply unsettling to him.
President Trump, a leader who prides himself on personal relationships, must find a way to dismantle this wall of skepticism brick by brick. He will need to offer Netanyahu concrete security guarantees and a convincing argument that this plan is not a naive hope, but a pragmatic solution that serves Israel’s long-term interests.