Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu Photo: AP (archive photo)
On Tuesday, 6 February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss key issues in the Middle East, including the future of the Gaza ceasefire and ways to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions. This will be Trump’s first official meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration on 20 January, Reuters reports.
It is expected that Netanyahu will try to improve relations with the White House, as they have previously experienced tensions over the Biden administration’s policies, particularly on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. At the same time, the two leaders share common interests, especially in the context of engagement with Iran.
Challenges on the road to peace and stability
Gaza remains a vulnerable point where the ceasefire is extremely fragile, and a similar truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is nearing completion. Continued talks with Hamas on the second phase of the truce agreement and the exchange of hostages will be an important issue in the negotiations.
At the same time, Netanyahu is facing difficult negotiations, as his political opponents in Israel are demanding that he resume hostilities in Gaza. At the same time, Trump is trying to promote the normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which may be complicated by Netanyahu’s opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Threats and chances for a new diplomatic phase
The meeting with Trump is an important chance for Netanyahu to strengthen his diplomatic position after his international isolation, in particular due to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in the case of war crimes during the Gaza war. However, experts note that the region is on the verge of major changes, and further negotiations could have a significant impact on the situation in the Middle East.
