The crisis in the Middle East will top the agenda in Tuesday’s meeting between the United States President, Donald Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to meet with Trump since he returned to the White House on January 20.
The Israeli PM arrived in Washington on Sunday for the visit.
“This is an important meeting that strengthens the deep alliance between Israel and the United States (U.S.) and will enhance our cooperation,’’ Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, wrote on X.
Relations between the two countries have been strained of late due to the actions of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as criticism from Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden.
Trump is less critical of the Israeli military’s actions than Biden.
The meeting between the two politicians is also intended to prepare the next round of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas on the continuation of the ceasefire in Gaza.
Netanyahu would also meet with the U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff helped broker the current Israeli hostages for the Palestinian prisoner deal underway.
