During a meeting in Washington on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel presented a positive demeanor alongside President Trump, reflecting a stark contrast to his sentiments during the previous administration. Netanyahu expressed satisfaction, having achieved many of his objectives during this visit.
While Trump’s ambitious idea of a U.S. takeover of Gaza was dismissed, he signaled a departure from the more critical stance adopted by President Biden towards Netanyahu. Under Biden, Netanyahu had not been welcomed at the White House until July, which was over 18 months into his current term. Conversely, Trump made Netanyahu the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House shortly after his recent return to power.
During discussions, Trump indicated his support for Israel's military actions against Hamas, suggesting that he would not intervene in the ongoing conflict despite the existing cease-fire. Just before Netanyahu's arrival, Trump reinstated "maximum pressure" on Iran and reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Furthermore, Trump pledged to facilitate diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a key agenda for Netanyahu, while withdrawing support for a Palestinian state, a stance that Netanyahu has consistently opposed. Trump also annulled sanctions against West Bank settlers imposed by the Biden administration and indicated plans to release military arms previously withheld.
Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East peace negotiator, remarked that the meeting highlighted the absence of tension between the U.S. and Israel, characterizing Netanyahu as one of the "happiest humans on the planet" post-meeting.
Netanyahu hinted at underlying tensions with Biden, citing the latter's calls for Israel to minimize civilian harm in Gaza. Netanyahu emphasized the importance of a united front between Israel and the U.S. in achieving success and indicated a favorable view of Trump's leadership.
When questioned about credit for a recent cease-fire agreement, Netanyahu acknowledged Trump’s influential role while neglecting to mention Biden. The meeting showcased a rekindled camaraderie between the two leaders, masking previous discord experienced during Trump's first term.
Despite their harmonious interaction, differences in their approaches were evident. Trump frequently condemned the casualties endured by Palestinians in Gaza while sitting next to Netanyahu, who was responsible for the military actions resulting in significant loss of life. They also diverged in their assessments of Iran, with Netanyahu asserting that the Iranian threat had diminished, while Trump maintained the opposite view, asserting that Iran had grown stronger under Biden's policies.
Ultimately, the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump highlighted their shared interests while glossing over significant policy differences, illustrating their mutual focus on avoiding any perceived discord.