PALM BEACH, Florida — As the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip stretches on, more and more reports have emerged of growing strains between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Axios last week indicated that Trump’s top aides believe Netanyahu is sabotaging the ceasefire process. According to the report, Trump’s team is convinced that Netanyahu is delaying progress toward the second phase of the president’s Gaza plan, and could ultimately resume the war against Hamas. Trump, meanwhile, wants to unveil the new technocratic government for Gaza, backed by the international peacekeeping force, and to convene the Board of Peace.

There were disagreements over Syria reported as well. According to the Kan public broadcaster, Netanyahu asked Trump to retain some American sanctions on Syria as he prepared to repeal them last week, in the hope that they could be used as a bargaining chip in future negotiations, but the request was refused.

At the heart of the ostensible strain was a fundamental disagreement over how to achieve some measure of long-term peace in Gaza and to pave the way for the realization of Trump’s vision for the Middle East. Trump wants to push ahead toward the day after Hamas without getting hung up on the thorny details like disarmament, otherwise Gaza will remain a conflict zone and the Saudis won’t agree to normalize ties with Israel.

Netanyahu, on the other hand, feels that no ceasefire with a terrorist group like Hamas or Hezbollah can stand — and they certainly won’t actually disarm — unless there is a credible threat of a major Israeli attack.

With the meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump and Netanyahu sought to signal that those reports on growing tensions appeared overblown.

A senior Israeli official who was present at the meeting told The Times of Israel that it was “the best” of the six they have held since the latter returned to office in January.

“Excellent meeting,” the official said.

That much seemed apparent from the two leaders even before they stepped into........

© The Times of Israel