Netanyahu Heads to Washington for High-Stakes Meeting with Trump
Talks to focus on Gaza war, Iran's nuclear threat, trade tariffs, and the ICC amid rising diplomatic tensions and stalled ceasefire efforts.
Watan-The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he will head to Washington today, Sunday, after receiving an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump. According to an official statement, the two leaders will discuss trade tariffs, efforts to secure the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, Israel-Turkey relations, the Iranian threat, and the ongoing battle against the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has accused Netanyahu of committing war crimes in Gaza.
A source close to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office told the Israeli channel i24NEWS on Saturday morning that Netanyahu is expected to travel directly from Hungary—where he is currently visiting—to the United States. As a result, the planned visit by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz to Washington has been postponed once again.
Netanyahu is also expected to explore an agreement with Trump to remove U.S.-imposed tariffs, alongside discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and the stagnant efforts to reach a new ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal with Hamas in Gaza. According to Israeli sources, Netanyahu is seeking a mutual understanding with Trump regarding the possibility of targeting Iranian nuclear sites, should diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran fail. Netanyahu reportedly believes that the chances of such an agreement with Iran are very low.
Netanyahu’s White House Visit Confirmed After Call with Trump
Last Thursday, Netanyahu held a phone conversation with Trump in which they discussed Hungary’s recent withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the two leaders also talked about economic issues, including new tariffs. During the call, Trump extended a formal invitation to Netanyahu to visit the White House.
The announcement of the visit came hours after Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Netanyahu would be coming to Washington “possibly as early as next week.” This caught both U.S. and Israeli officials by surprise, as the visit was initially expected to occur later in April, possibly during the Passover holiday starting on April 14.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department confirmed early Saturday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Netanyahu to discuss the situation in Gaza and the tariff issue. The department added that the Secretary reiterated the United States’ firm support for Israel.
