Netanyahu to meet Trump in a first encounter since the Iran war began

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assembly with President Donald Trump on Tuesday is the primary because the two leaders launched a joint battle in opposition to Iran and an opportunity for Netanyahu to easy out strains of their relationship.

The assembly comes as each face rising pressures at house. Netanyahu is up for reelection and is embattled partly due to his deteriorating relationship with Trump. Trump is underneath strain to finish an unpopular battle that has wreaked financial havoc and pushed costs increased forward of midterm elections this November.

The 2 leaders additionally plan to debate the framework settlement the U.S. and Israel signed with Lebanon over the Israel-Hezbollah battle and the enlargement of the Abraham Accords, based on a White Home official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to preview the assembly.

“We now have slightly distinction,” Trump stated Monday when requested by reporters if he and the Israeli prime minister had been on the identical web page with Iran. “However fairly shut, yeah.”

Trump and Netanyahu’s relationship has ebbed earlier than

Trump has had a hot-and-cold historical past with Netanyahu over time, however upon his return to the White Home final 12 months, their alliance appeared stronger than ever. Once they began the battle collectively in February, it was with a united entrance, touting their respective militaries as performing in lockstep to take out Iran’s management and pave the way in which for a authorities extra pleasant to the West.

However as Iran fought again — sending drones and missiles slamming into U.S. bases and high-rises in cities within the Gulf, and choking off the Strait of Hormuz — Trump got here underneath immense strain each at house and by allies within the area to finish the battle.

Younger males experience bikes alongside the shore as a tractor pulls tools from the water and business vessels seem anchored within the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026.

Razieh Poudat/ISNA through AP

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Razieh Poudat/ISNA through AP

Since then, Netanyahu, who wished to proceed the preventing in Iran and in opposition to its ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon, has been sidelined as Trump sought a cope with Tehran. His go to to the White Home this week comes because the disagreements with Trump and Vice President JD Vance have burst into the open over the battle in Iran and extra.

“The People are making it clear to the Israelis they’re those who’re working the battle,” Israeli journalist and political analyst Amit Segal wrote Monday within the each day newspaper, Israel Hayom. “It’s clear to everybody that Israel has been put within the again seat.”

Netanyahu retaining give attention to Iran’s nuclear program

With U.S.-Iran tensions flaring once more in current weeks, Netanyahu plans to share with Trump Israeli intelligence on Tehran’s nuclear program, based on an individual accustomed to Netanyahu’s go to, who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk to the media.

On Fox Information Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo, Netanyahu stated he hoped to take a seat down with Trump “to listen to what he has in thoughts” for Iran.

“As a result of I believe, in some ways, it is his determination” on the right way to transfer ahead, Netanyahu stated. “If he can achieve this with out returning to intense navy preventing, that is advantageous. Why not?

“However in some way, they’ve to finish their nuclear program,” he stated of Iran.

Netanyahu additionally used the interview to warn Iran in opposition to attacking his nation, saying Israel’s response could be “very forceful.”

Steps to permit different forces in Gaza and in Lebanon

However at the same time as Netanyahu sees a possibility, he additionally wants to influence Trump that he will not play spoiler to U.S. diplomatic and reconstruction efforts in Gaza and in Lebanon, the place the president has beforehand complained that “too many individuals are being killed” by Israeli strikes.

Israel has taken current steps in each locations.

In Lebanon, the place the Israeli navy occupies a lot of the south, Israel agreed to permit the Lebanese military to deploy to some villages as a part of a “pilot program” testing their potential to safe areas the place Hezbollah as soon as operated. The U.S. State Division stated Monday the following spherical of talks between Israel and Lebanon will happen subsequent week in Rome with a give attention to increasing this system.

On Gaza, Israel’s safety cupboard green-lit on Sunday a measure that will, in idea, grant entry to the primary members of a global stabilization pressure outlined final 12 months in a U.S.-backed ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Few nations have pledged troops for the pressure, nevertheless, and Israel would approve their entry into Gaza on a case-by-case foundation.

The troops — together with from Morocco and Uganda — would solely be allowed to function in a small, desolate space in Rafah within the south, the place the plan is to vet and home some displaced Palestinians.

The Israeli navy continues to hold out strikes it says goal militants however which have additionally killed civilians.

Help for Israel has eroded

Israel has misplaced a major quantity of bipartisan assist in the US, notably over its conduct in Gaza.

In June, Vance warned Israeli officers that Trump was their solely good friend amongst world leaders. Vance is anticipated to attend the assembly with Netanyahu, based on an individual accustomed to the plan who was not licensed to talk publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity.

An AP-NORC ballot printed earlier this month discovered a dramatic erosion of assist amongst American adults for Israel.

“We have misplaced America. Thanks, Bibi,” wrote Ben Caspit, a political commentator for Israel’s Maariv newspaper.