By Ben Samuels & Amir Tibon

U.S. officials believe that Jerusalem's attitude toward the Palestinian Authority would soften if it agreed to stop acting against Israel in international bodies and ended its highly contentious payment system for convicted murderers in Israeli prisons.

The Biden administration believes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government would agree to the Palestinian Authority eventually assuming control over post-war Gaza if specific policy changes are instituted, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.

U.S. officials believe that Jerusalem's attitude toward the Palestinian Authority would soften if it agreed to stop acting against Israel in international bodies and ended its highly contentious payment system for convicted murderers in Israeli prisons.

Despite Israel's public opposition to allowing the PA to control Gaza, U.S. officials say it has not presented any alternative for post-war Gaza's leadership. Key Arab states, including Gulf countries with whom Israel wants to continue pursuing political rapprochement, support the option of the West Bank and Gaza being governed together under the authority of the PA.

"As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution," Biden wrote in the Washington Post on Saturday.

During his visit to Israel and several Arab states last week, Brett McGurk, Biden's top Middle East advisor, dedicated particular focus to the war's aftermath and possible arrangements for Gaza's future leadership structure.

In the upcoming weeks, U.S. officials plan to delve further into Israel's demands from the PA and the PA's potential ability to meet them to pave the way for an eventual assumption of power in Gaza with international backing.

Netanyahu has repeatedly attacked the PA since October 7, highlighting its payment system for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, including those convicted of murder and terrorism. He has also emphasized antisemitic incitement within the PA and its refusal to condemn the October 7 Hamas attack forcefully.

The prisoner payment system is directly related to the PA's relationship with the U.S., which passed a law in 2017 called the Taylor Force Act prohibiting direct U.S. funding as long as this system remains in place. Resolving this issue would let the Biden administration resume direct financial support for the PA and strengthen it as part of the eventual power transfer process.

Despite Netanyahu's public opposition, U.S. officials believe changes in the PA's conduct could sway Netanyahu – particularly if he can portray them as an "achievement" to the Israeli voting public.

The Biden administration is acutely aware of the significant difficulties Netanyahu would have in convincing his far-right coalition partners.

Senior U.S. officials who visited Israel last week explicitly warned about the Palestinian Authority's potential collapse and the threat of a "second front" opening in the West Bank. They also warned that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's attempts to sabotage the PA could lead to a severe deterioration of security and harm the political support Israel has enjoyed so far.

The Biden administration is also concerned about rising violence in the West Bank, particularly attacks by extremist Israelis in illegal outposts on Palestinian civilians. These incidents receive extensive coverage in Palestinian media, and U.S. officials see them as boosting support in the West Bank for Hamas and other terror groups.

Biden wrote in the Washington Post that the U.S. is prepared to issue visa bans on settlers who attack Palestinian civilians, an unprecedented statement from an American president.

"The Palestinian Authority, throughout this period of crisis since October 7, has continued to work to provide security in the West Bank and has continued to cooperate with Israeli defense forces on the provision of security… even though they are under incredible pressure inside their own communities not to do that, quite candidly," U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer told CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday. "Our view is the Palestinian Authority is the only official institutional representative of the Palestinian people in the West Bank."