Israel’s Netanyahu departs for US to fulfill with Trump, hoping to strengthen ties with Washington
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for the U.S. on Sunday to fulfill with U.S. President Donald Trump, seeking to strengthen ties with the U.S. authorities following tensions with the Biden administration over the struggle in Gaza.
Netanyahu departed for Washington amid the ceasefire with Hamas – which incorporates hostage releases – nonetheless in impact and negotiations for a second part anticipated to start this week. He would be the first overseas chief to go to Trump since his inauguration on Jan. 20.
“The fact that this will be his first meeting with a leader of a foreign country since his inauguration holds great significance for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu mentioned in a press release.
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President Donald Trump (L) shakes fingers with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) as they pose for a photograph throughout their assembly at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, on July 26, 2024. (Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO) / Handout/Anadolu through Getty Images)
“First of all, it indicates the strength of the alliance between Israel and the United States. Secondly, it also reflects the strength of our connection; a connection that has already yielded great things for the State of Israel and the region, and has also brought about the historic peace agreements between Israel and four Arab countries – the ‘Abraham Accords’ that President Trump led,” the prime minister continued.
This comes almost 16 months after the struggle in Gaza started, prompted by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault towards Israel, resulting in army retaliation from Israeli forces.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks throughout a press convention in Jerusalem on December 9, 2024. (MAYA ALLERUZZO/POOL/AFP through Getty Images)
“The decisions we made during the war, combined with the bravery of our IDF soldiers, have already changed the face of the Middle East,” Netanyahu mentioned. “They have changed it beyond recognition. I believe that with hard work alongside President Trump, we can change it even more for the better.”
“Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further and for the better,” he added.
Netanyahu and former U.S. President Joe Biden skilled pressure of their relationship over the past administration in Washington, and the Israeli prime minister has not visited the White House since returning to workplace on the finish of 2022.

President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago property, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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“We can strengthen Israel’s security, we can expand the circle of peace even further, and we can bring about a wonderful era that we never dreamed of. An era of prosperity, security, and peace from a position of strength,” Netanyahu mentioned. “The strength of our soldiers, the strength of our citizens, the strength of Israel, and the strength of the alliance between Israel and the United States.”
Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel and Reuters contributed to this report.