Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves for Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, 2 February 2025. Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is flying to Washington, D.C., where he will be the first foreign leader to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump after his return to the White House. The talks will focus on security challenges in the region, in particular the threat from Iran, as well as the prospects for normalising relations with Saudi Arabia, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Before his flight, Netanyahu said: “We can expand the circle of peace. We have a unique opportunity to strengthen Israel’s security and ensure stability in the region.” The main political intrigue of the visit will be the discussion of a potential deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which, however, remains in doubt due to Riyadh’s demand for political guarantees for the Palestinians. Netanyahu has previously avoided making concessions in this direction, which could become a stumbling block in the negotiations.
The second stage of the hostage deal will also be an important topic. The negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, are scheduled to resume on Monday. It is known that the Israeli side has so far avoided direct talks in Doha and Cairo, preferring intermediary channels through American diplomats.
Among the people accompanying Netanyahu are Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, Hostage Coordinator Gal Hirsch, and new Communications Adviser Caroline Glick. The delegation also includes the prime minister’s personal physician, due to Netanyahu’s recent prostate surgery.
Washington is still formulating its policy towards the Middle East, and Israeli officials suggest that this visit could have a significant impact on the Trump administration’s approach. “Only after this meeting will it be possible to fully assess the direction in which American policy will move,” said a senior Israeli government official.
During the talks in the White House, a detailed discussion of the strategy towards Iran is expected. Israel insists on a tougher policy towards Tehran’s nuclear programme and calls on the US to strengthen the regional coalition against the Iranian threat. The issue of the future of the Gaza Strip after the war will also be discussed.
In addition to the official programme, the visit has a personal aspect. The Prime Minister will be reunited with his wife Sarah, who has been in Miami for the past 70 days. After the meeting at the White House, Trump is expected to host Netanyahu at Blair House, the official guest residence of the US president, and to have a gala dinner. This is Netanyahu’s first foreign visit since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him, adding to the political tension surrounding the meeting. Sarah Netanyahu is likely to return to Israel with her husband after the talks.
The results of this meeting are expected to determine the main directions of development of Israeli-American relations in the coming years and influence the political landscape of the entire Middle East.
