TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington for an impromptu visit to the White House, raising a long list of concerns: Iran’s nuclear program, President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Turkey’s growing influence in Syria, and the 18-month-long war in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s second visit to Washington under Trump’s second term was organized with little notice and was seen as an effort to address the new US tariff regime. However, it came at a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Israel resumed fighting in Gaza last month, ending a ceasefire brokered by Trump, and tensions with Iran over its nuclear program have escalated.
Netanyahu seemed to leave the meeting on Monday mostly empty-handed — a stark contrast to his triumphant visit just two months prior. During a one-hour appearance in the Oval Office, Trump appeared to strike, contradict, or complicate each of Netanyahu’s policy prerogatives.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu called the meeting a success, describing it as a “very good visit” and claiming success on all fronts. However, privately, the Israeli delegation felt it had been a difficult meeting, according to someone familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with protocol.
“Netanyahu didn’t exactly hear what he wanted to hear, so he’s going back home with very little,” said Nadav Eyal, a commentator with the daily Yediot Ahronot, who added that the visit was nevertheless friendly despite the disagreements.
Monday’s meeting showed that while Trump remains friendly toward Israel, Netanyahu’s relationship with the president in his second term is more complicated and unpredictable than he might have expected.
Netanyahu and his allies were excited about Trump’s return to office due to his strong support for Israel during his first term. This time, Trump not only nominated pro-Israel figures to key administration posts but also abandoned the Biden administration’s criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Netanyahu’s steps to weaken Israel’s courts.
Netanyahu has long called for military pressure on Iran.
For years, Netanyahu has argued that military pressure was the best way to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Israel struck Iran last year in the first direct conflict between the two countries. However, Israel did not target Iran’s nuclear facilities, something that Israel may now need US military assistance for in order to strike deeply buried targets.
