Middle East crisis top agenda as Trump, Netanyahu meet in Washington

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.

READ ALSO: Security beefed up at US Middle East embassies as Trump moves to announce Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

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.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now