Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought a meeting with former President Donald Trump during his visit to the United States this week. The meeting, which is yet to be confirmed, would come amid Netanyahu’s engagements with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other lawmakers. The discussions could influence Netanyahu’s policies and his campaign strategy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested an in-person meeting with former President Donald Trump during his U.S. visit this week. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and members of Congress, and he will also deliver a speech to Congress on Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the outreach have indicated that discussions are ongoing between the teams of Netanyahu and Trump regarding the possibility of a face-to-face meeting. While Trump has not yet agreed to the meeting, he has also not dismissed the idea. If the meeting occurs, it is likely to take place later in the week following Trump’s rally in North Carolina on Thursday.
This request for a meeting comes against the backdrop of a historic political shift in the U.S., with President Biden recently announcing his decision not to seek re-election and Vice President Harris intensifying her presidential campaign. Harris is currently forming her team and solidifying her foreign policy positions, including her stance on the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Despite Trump’s strong support for Israel during his presidency, relations between Trump and Netanyahu have been strained in recent years. Trump was displeased with Netanyahu’s congratulatory message to Biden after the 2020 election and criticized Netanyahu for Israel’s intelligence failures regarding an incident on October 7. Trump recently issued a warning to Netanyahu to secure the release of hostages, threatening that failure to do so would affect their future relations if Trump returns to office.
A potential meeting with Trump could bolster Netanyahu’s support from the former president and strengthen his policies regarding the West Bank, Gaza, and his campaign against Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border. For Trump, this meeting could re-establish formal communications with Netanyahu, especially as the Harris campaign is still defining its approach towards the Israeli Prime Minister.
The U.S. and Israel are also working towards advancing talks for a cease-fire in Gaza and securing the release of remaining hostages. Last week, delegations from the U.S., Israel, Egypt, and Qatar were scheduled to meet, but Israel decided not to send its team, delaying the discussions.
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