The image was striking: a triumphant Donald Trump beside a visibly weakened Benjamin Netanyahu. Greeting the U.S. president as ‘the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,’ the Israeli prime minister appeared to have lost his energy and voice. The agreement he accepted on Monday (September 29, 2025) provides a role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and opens the door — albeit limited — to a future Palestinian state. These are red lines for his most extreme allies. Far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir threaten to bring down Netanyahu’s government if he concedes too much under pressure from Trump. They dream of annexing Gaza, expelling Palestinians, and reestablishing Jewish settlements. Netanyahu, who fought against peace processes for years, is now cornered into defending a deal he never wanted.
The stakes go beyond Gaza, BBC emphasizes. Israeli President Isaac Herzog is considering granting Netanyahu a presidential pardon in the corruption cases he faces, offering him a dignified exit. For now, however, Netanyahu insists, stating on camera: ‘Absolutely not, there will be no Palestinian state.’ In reality, the Israeli cabinet will not vote on the full plan, but only on the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Some analysts believe Netanyahu hopes Hamas will reject the deal, giving him grounds to continue the war. At the joint press conference in Washington, he made clear that if Hamas fails to uphold the agreement, Israel will have a blank check to ‘finish the job.’
Known for his political maneuvering, Netanyahu has previously bought time through temporary concessions and reversals. This time, as BBC observes, he struggles to maintain the image of ‘total victory’ while publicly retreating on issues he spent his career opposing. For the first time since the conflict began, avoiding the deal may cost Netanyahu more than accepting it. The question now is clear: will he choose his American ally or his far-right partners in Jerusalem?