Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday for the first time since the start of the Iran war, over which they have publicly disagreed. The meeting, expected to be dominated by the ongoing conflict, marks their first in-person talks since hostilities began. Netanyahu emphasized the importance of the meeting, stating that it carries both privilege and responsibility. The leaders are expected to discuss the implementation of a US-sponsored framework deal with Lebanon and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Relations between Netanyahu and Trump have occasionally appeared strained, particularly during negotiations on the ceasefire with Iran in April. Despite this, both leaders have sought to downplay differences, with Netanyahu describing them as 'tactical disagreements' and Trump calling Netanyahu a 'very difficult guy' in an interview. Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, believes the primary aim of the visit is to dispel reports of a cooling in relations between the allies.
The meeting is also significant as it comes ahead of Israel's national elections, in which Netanyahu is seeking another term. Recent polls show Netanyahu trailing, with public anger lingering over his government's failure to prevent Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the Gaza war. Trump is expected to focus on his two regional priorities: Iran and the expansion of the Abraham Accords, rather than on Gaza, which he sees as less of a priority.
The Abraham Accords, a series of US-brokered normalization agreements, established formal diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. Other observers suggest the talks could address the possible easing of Israel's military presence in the region, such as in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza. The visit underscores the complex dynamics at play in the Middle East, with both leaders navigating domestic and international pressures.