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6 April, Jerusalem – Washington – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing for a surprise visit to Washington to meet with Donald Trump – not because of hostages or the threat from Iran, but to resolve the new economic crisis. The reason for the urgent visit is the 17 per cent tariffs that Trump has imposed on Israeli goods as part of a broader strategy of customs pressure on US partners.
This was announced by an Israeli official on Saturday evening. Although the visit has not been officially confirmed, preparations are already underway. Netanyahu is expected to leave Budapest on Sunday and arrive in Washington the same day. He is scheduled to return to Israel on Monday evening.
In connection with the trip, the Prime Minister’s lawyers have already filed a request to change the schedule of interrogations in court – from Monday and Wednesday to alternative dates (Thursday evening, Friday morning or next Monday during Passover).
According to Ynet, the Israeli side tried to avoid the imposition of tariffs by offering to reduce duties on US goods in return, but Trump made the decision anyway.
“This is an unprecedented moment in the economic and geopolitical sense. The prime minister wants to solve the problem as soon as possible,” the official said.
The meeting was discussed during Netanyahu’s phone call with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Trump himself. Although Israel offered to hold it during Passover, the White House insisted on Monday.
Tariffs are not the only topic of conversation. Netanyahu is expected to raise the issue of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the US-Israel-Turkey trilateral relationship, Iranian threats, and Hungary’s recent withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.
“The Americans, in particular Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, are actually leading the hostage negotiations,” the source told Ynet.
“The prime minister wants to use this meeting to increase pressure on Hamas, along with Israeli military pressure.”
This early visit to Trump, before other world leaders, underscores, according to the source, the strong personal ties between Netanyahu and the former US president. This, according to the official, is a “strong signal” for both the country and the region.
