Standing alongside former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared unusually subdued. Despite heralding a peace agreement that could reshape the Middle East, his hoarse tone and diminished energy hinted at the political storm waiting for him back home.
Netanyahu praised Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,” but such warmth may come at a cost. His far-right coalition partners, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have openly threatened to leave the government if the deal moves forward in its current form.
The central tension lies in the agreement’s provisions. While heavily caveated, it calls for a pathway to Palestinian governance in Gaza and outlines a potential role for the Palestinian Authority — steps Netanyahu’s right-wing allies fiercely oppose. Many in his coalition continue to demand the annexation of Gaza, expulsion of Palestinians, and the re-establishment of Jewish settlements, policies that stand in direct conflict with the deal’s framework.
For Trump, the stakes are different. By pushing Netanyahu into signing, he is offering Israel the prospect of normalization with Arab states and the chance to cement a more peaceful regional future. For Netanyahu, however, the gamble risks unraveling his fragile governing coalition and could even cost him his premiership.
The peace deal underscores the prime minister’s precarious position: caught between a U.S.-led vision of regional stability and the uncompromising demands of his political allies. Whether Netanyahu can survive the backlash and turn this diplomatic gamble into a lasting legacy remains uncertain.
Netanyahu Faces Backlash Over Trump-Backed Peace Deal
