Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet United States President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday in their first face-to-face meeting since the outbreak of the Iran war, despite recent public disagreements between the two leaders.
Although relations between Netanyahu and Trump have appeared strained at different points in recent months, both leaders have since sought to ease tensions.
The meeting is expected to focus primarily on the ongoing conflict, which began after US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Washington has indicated that it is now seeking to create room for diplomatic negotiations.
Israel has not participated in the latest wave of hostilities between the United States and Iran, which reignited earlier this month after an April ceasefire collapsed.
Tuesday’s engagement marks the eighth meeting between Trump and Netanyahu since the US president returned to office last year, and their first in-person talks since the war began.
Speaking before departing Israel on Monday, Netanyahu described the visit as both an honour and a significant responsibility.
“This is a great privilege, but it is also a great responsibility,” Netanyahu said.
He added:
“We will discuss all the issues on the agenda, first and foremost Iran. Naturally, our goal is to safeguard our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us.”
Iran Expected To Dominate Discussions
The leaders are expected to devote much of their discussions to the Iran conflict and efforts to revive diplomacy following months of escalating tensions.
Relations between Trump and Netanyahu came under pressure in April during negotiations surrounding the ceasefire, with Trump reportedly expressing frustration in a series of profanity-laced remarks directed at the Israeli leader.
In a subsequent interview, Trump referred to Netanyahu as a “very difficult guy.”
Netanyahu later dismissed suggestions of a major fallout, describing their differences as strategic rather than fundamental.
According to the Israeli prime minister, both governments remain aligned on the broader objectives of the conflict despite differing approaches.
Lebanon, Gaza and regional security also on agenda
The White House meeting is also expected to cover the implementation of the US-backed framework agreement signed by Israel and Lebanon last month, although putting the deal into effect has proven challenging.
Gaza is also expected to feature in the discussions as international efforts to revive reconstruction in the war-ravaged territory continue to face significant obstacles.
Nearly three years after the Israel-Hamas conflict began, humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain severe, while Israel continues military operations targeting individuals it identifies as militants.
Experts See Meeting As A Show Of Unity
Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, believes one of the key objectives of the meeting is to counter speculation of growing divisions between Washington and Tel Aviv.
“I think that the main issue… is to show the world, to show Iran, and also even Lebanon and others as well specifically, that there is no break or any kind of major disagreement between the United States and Israel,” he told AFP.
He added:
“There’s more in agreement between the two leaders than disagreement.”
According to Freeman, the differences between Trump and Netanyahu relate mainly to operational issues such as timing, intensity and immediate military objectives, rather than the overall goals of the war.
He also suggested that Trump is likely to prioritise discussions on Iran and expanding the Abraham Accords over developments in Gaza.
Abraham Accords And Regional Military Presence
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States during Trump’s first term, established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
Some analysts also expect the meeting to examine the possibility of reducing Israel’s military presence in parts of the region, including Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
Netanyahu’s visit comes as Israel prepares for national elections later this year, with the prime minister seeking another term in office.
Recent opinion polls suggest Netanyahu is trailing his rivals, as criticism persists over his government’s handling of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered the Gaza war.
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