U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday for the first time since the start of the joint war waged by their two countries against Iran—a period marked by tensions in their relationship.
اضافة اعلان
Relations between the two leaders hit their lowest point in April during negotiations over a ceasefire later announced between the United States and Iran. However, that agreement collapsed completely on July 7 with the resumption of military operations between Iran and the United States, while Israel remained clear of direct involvement.
The war with Iran is expected to dominate the meeting's agenda at a time when Washington emphasizes its desire to give the diplomatic path with the Islamic Republic a chance.
This will mark the eighth meeting between Netanyahu and Trump since the latter returned to the White House last year for a second term.
Speaking before leaving Israel on Monday, Netanyahu said meeting Trump is "a great honor, but also a heavy responsibility," adding, "We will discuss all issues on the agenda, chief among them Iran. Naturally, our objective is to safeguard our security, as well as expand the circle of peace around us."
During the period of tension, Trump directed sharp criticism at his Israeli ally. In a media interview, he described him as a "very tough guy" because Israeli occupation forces continued heavy bombardments in Lebanon while Washington was leading negotiations with Tehran to stop the war, thereby hindering those talks.
Trump had previously acknowledged using harsh and explicit language toward Netanyahu during a telephone call.
Netanyahu, for his part, played down those differences, framing them as "differences in approach" while maintaining that both sides agree on the war's ultimate objectives.
The meeting—during which both allies will attempt to present a united front—is also expected to address the implementation of the U.S.-sponsored framework agreement signed by Israel and Lebanon last month, whose execution continues to face on-the-ground hurdles.
War broke out in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched a volley of rockets into Israel in solidarity with Iran. Israeli military operations ceased following the signing of the framework agreement, though Israel continues to occupy vast areas of southern Lebanon.
Discussions will also cover the situation in the Gaza Strip amid stalled diplomatic efforts aimed at launching the reconstruction process of the devastated territory.
Nearly three years after the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories remains extremely dire, while the Israeli occupation army continues to carry out strikes it claims target militants.
No Fundamental Disagreement
For Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the primary goal of the visit is to refute reports of a rift in relations between the two allies.
"I think the main issue is showing the world, Iran, Lebanon, and others that there is no split or fundamental disagreement between the United States and Israel," he told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"The points of agreement between the two leaders far outweigh the points of disagreement," he added.
Freeman believes that any friction between Trump and Netanyahu relates to the tactics for achieving goals—such as timing, intensity, or immediate targets of operations—rather than the ultimate goals themselves.
He also suggests that Trump will focus primarily on his two regional priorities: Iran and expanding the "Abraham Accords" (the normalization agreements with Israel), rather than focusing on the Palestinian issue, which he views as a lower priority.
Netanyahu's visit also comes months ahead of Israeli legislative elections in which he is seeking a new term.
Recent opinion polls indicate a decline in Netanyahu's popularity amid ongoing public anger over his government's failure to prevent Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israeli-occupied territory on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.
Al-Mamlaka + AFP
