Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House on Monday, according to an Axios report confirmed by a US official. Netanyahu’s office stated that he “will fly to Washington tomorrow in light of an invitation he received to meet with US President Donald Trump.”
According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli prime minister “appreciates the warm and personal relationship with President Trump and thanks him for the invitation to be the first leader to meet with him following the imposition of global tariffs-just as he was the first leader to meet with him after his entry into the White House,” as per a statement from his office.
The meeting is set against a backdrop of recent tensions, as President Donald Trump imposed 17% tariffs on Israeli goods amid ongoing issues related to Gaza and Iran. This visit would mark Netanyahu’s first direct attempt to negotiate the removal of these newly announced reciprocal tariffs. Notably, Israel had recently removed all remaining tariffs on US goods but was not granted a similar exemption from the US levies.
The agenda for the discussions will also include hostilities in Gaza and Iran’s nuclear program. “Netanyahu thinks the chances of a US-Iran nuclear deal are extremely low,” an Israeli official shared with the newspaper, highlighting plans to coordinate potential strikes on Iranian facilities.
Originally, the meeting was scheduled for Passover week starting April 14 but was moved forward during Friday discussions between both offices, as reported by Axios, citing four sources familiar with the situation. The accelerated visit has necessitated Netanyahu to reschedule his ongoing corruption trial testimony. However, neither administration has officially confirmed the visit.
Meanwhile, Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have resulted in 50,669 fatalities since October 2023, according to the Health Ministry’s report on Saturday. Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. In addition, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in the enclave.