Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent White House visit, aimed at addressing critical issues including Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the Gaza conflict, and U.S. tariffs, focused on unexpected gaps in his relationship with President Donald Trump.
Despite Netanyahu’s optimistic declaration that the meeting was a success, Israeli officials privately expressed disappointment, as many of his key concerns went unaddressed.
During the one-hour Oval Office meeting, Netanyahu pushed for stronger U.S. military pressure on Iran, but Trump’s approach leaned towards diplomatic negotiations, a stark contrast to Netanyahu's hawkish stance. Trump announced U.S.-Iran talks, a move that Netanyahu did not fully support, even as both leaders agreed Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. Netanyahu had hoped for a U.S. commitment to military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, something Israel would need U.S. support for.
On trade, Netanyahu sought relief from tariffs on Israeli goods after the U.S. imposed a 17% levy on Israel’s exports, despite Israel’s decision to remove tariffs on U.S. products. However, Trump was unmoved, pointing to the significant U.S. military aid to Israel as compensation.
Additionally, Netanyahu expressed concern over Turkiye’s increasing influence in Syria, but Trump countered by praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and advising Netanyahu to approach Turkiye with reason.
The meeting also touched on the ongoing Gaza conflict. Netanyahu discussed Israeli hostages and his government’s continued military actions against Hamas, but Trump seemed eager for the war to end, offering a potential path to peace.
Despite the stark policy differences, Netanyahu’s visit underscored the complexities of U.S.-Israel relations during Trump’s second term, with both leaders striving to balance cooperation with diverging priorities.
The meeting, though marked by disagreements, set the stage for future dialogue on these pressing issues.
Source: AP
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
