Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington, D.C., and will visit the White House on Tuesday, with the war against Iran as the top issue on the agenda. The visit marks his first meeting with President Donald Trump since the U.S. and Israel launched an offensive against Iran on February 28. The trip also comes as Israel escalates raids and arrests in the occupied West Bank, three months before Israeli elections.
Netanyahu has visited the White House more times under the Trump administration than under any other U.S. president. Political analysts suggest Netanyahu is seeking Trump's backing for his re-election bid.
The two leaders are expected to discuss the war with Iran, Israeli strikes on Lebanon, and the Abraham Accords aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and Arab nations. A White House official said the meeting would not announce public outcomes.
The visit occurs as violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank intensifies, following a deadly shooting in the town of Tal that killed two Israelis and four Palestinians. About 600 former Israeli officials sent a letter urging Trump to curb escalating violence in the West Bank.
Relations between Trump and Netanyahu have shown signs of strain. Trump once called Netanyahu a "crazy man" during a phone call, accusing him of undermining U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran. "I give the orders. I give all the orders. He doesn't give orders," Trump told the Financial Times.
Netanyahu is expected to push for "regime change" in Iran, but analysts say Trump does not support this. Israel also opposes the U.S.-Iran memorandum signed on June 17 and the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
Netanyahu insists his relationship with Trump remains "good," but sources say the meeting was arranged only after the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham was announced. The visit is seen as an opportunity for Netanyahu to secure Trump's support for his re-election campaign ahead of the October 27 elections.
