A “Reformed” PA: The Million-Dollar Question in the U.S. Gaza Plan

The entire long-term strategy of the U.S. peace plan for Gaza hinges on a million-dollar question: can the Palestinian Authority (PA) truly be “reformed”? This question will be a central point of contention in Monday’s meeting between President Donald Trump, who believes it’s possible, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is deeply skeptical.
The American 21-point plan is built on the assumption that a new, revitalized, and credible PA can emerge to govern Gaza after a transitional period. Washington and its Arab partners see this as the only way to create a legitimate, unified Palestinian government that can be a partner for peace and prevent the resurgence of extremism.
The blueprint for reform would likely involve tackling corruption, improving governance, and ensuring the PA can provide security and essential services to the people of Gaza. The U.S. and Gulf nations would be expected to provide significant financial and technical support to facilitate this transformation.
However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly dismissed this possibility as wishful thinking. He views the PA as fundamentally flawed, both in its capacity and its ideology. He has stated his belief that the PA is unlikely to change its anti-Israel stance or its inability to control its territory, as evidenced by the 2007 Hamas takeover.
This fundamental disagreement over the viability of a reformed PA is the biggest obstacle to a lasting peace. President Trump will need to provide a very convincing argument to Netanyahu that this time can be different, and that the international community is committed to ensuring the PA’s transformation. Without bridging this gap, the “day after” in Gaza will remain dangerously undefined.