Then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with then-President Donald J. Trump. This high profile and hugely consequential meeting is happening on Monday. This high-profile meeting follows a phone call between the two leaders last Thursday. Here are just a few of the important, pressing matters concerning Israel, the U.S., and Middle East stability that they addressed in their discussion.
The next round of negotiations will be aimed at resuscitating those defunct attempts. They want to negotiate a new ceasefire agreement to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Hostilities have flared up anew in recent months. Just last month, Israel escalated its military attacks on Gaza, crushing a temporary ceasefire with Hamas. The long-awaited return of Israeli captives will surely overshadow any other discussions. Once again, Palestinian groups in Gaza are at the forefront of this critical question.
Aside from the geopolitical challenges facing Gaza, this is precisely what Netanyahu was getting at when he warned Trump against imposing tariffs in their bilateral meeting. Today, for example, Israel is slapped with a 17-percent tariff as part of Trump’s misguided “reciprocal tariffs” strategy. Israel recently announced their intention to reduce remaining tariffs on U.S. imports to zero. This step, though, is through a free trade agreement that already allows nearly 98 percent of U.S. goods to enter Israel duty-free.
Netanyahu’s dialogue with Trump will also touch upon Iran’s nuclear program. The former president has even called on Iran to reopen negotiations over a modified deal. This call comes at a time when Western nations, particularly the United States, blame Tehran for attempting to acquire a nuclear weapons capability. This meeting occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the region, particularly following Hungary’s recent announcement of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) just before Netanyahu’s visit.
The first series of conversations will address the bilateral Turkiye-Israel relationship. They promise to tackle the long-standing enmity of both countries to the ICC. The ICC and its jurisdiction over alleged Israeli war crimes have always been a controversial issue for Israel’s leaders.
Netanyahu’s planned trip marks his first visit to Europe since the fall of 2023. As the world continues to shift, this trip will help underscore the importance of U.S.-Israel relations. As Netanyahu heads into the meeting in Washington, he should be focused on building support for Israel’s long-term interests. Simultaneously, he walks the delicate line of international relations.
