Netanyahu Seeks White House Meeting with Trump Amid Middle East Tensions
Israeli PM Aims to Be the First Foreign Leader to Meet Trump Post-Inauguration as U.S. Envoy Visits Israel to Address Ceasefires and Regional Issues.
Watan-Two U.S. officials stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week. If the visit takes place, Netanyahu would be the first foreign leader to meet Trump at the White House since his inauguration.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, will visit Israel this week to arrange the meeting and hold talks with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.
Trump himself hinted at the possibility of the meeting during remarks aboard Air Force One, saying, “I’ll be speaking with Bibi Netanyahu soon,” though he did not provide additional details about the timing of the meeting.
Despite initial reports from the Axios website, Netanyahu’s spokesperson, Omer Dostri, clarified that the prime minister has not yet received an official invitation. However, an Israeli official indicated that the visit could take place in February, though no final date has been set.
In a related context, Witkoff announced during the opening ceremony of a synagogue in New York that he would travel to Israel on Wednesday to focus on implementing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. He emphasized that proper enforcement of the agreement is essential to avoiding any new escalation.
Witkoff’s agenda also includes ensuring the release of American hostages held by Hamas and strengthening the ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
