Protesters to demonstrate against Trump hosting Netanyahu. [Getty]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington DC for the week as Donald Trump’s first overseas head-of-state visitor since he was inaugurated as president two weeks ago.
The visit comes amid a shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and repeated suggestions by Trump that Gazans should be resettled in Egypt and Jordan, something that would have been almost unthinkable even under the staunchly pro-Israel Biden administration though former Secretary of State Antony Binken did propose temporarily relocating Gaza residents to Egypt’s Sinai in the early days of the Gaza war.
Protesters are getting ready for a mass demonstration in front of the White House on Tuesday evening, when the Israeli prime minister, an internationally wanted suspected war criminal is scheduled to meet with Trump, in turn a convicted felon.
Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. also comes amid his ongoing corruption trial, which has overshadowed his international standing. The trial, which revolves around allegations of favours exchanged with media moguls and wealthy figures, has prompted Netanyahu to claim that he is the target of a political “witch hunt.” His appearance alongside Trump, who remains popular in Israel, could serve to divert attention from the trial and improve Netanyahu’s domestic standing.
The last time Netanyahu paid a major visit to the US capital, the city took extra security measures, including bringing in law enforcement from New York City.
On Monday, the day before meeting with Trump, Netanyahu was scheduled to see Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East, who has been credited for helping negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza that was announced last month.
On Wednesday, the Israeli prime minister will reportedly be meeting with US military leaders. On Thursday, he will have meetings with members of Congress.
Netanyahu had originally planned to return to Israel Thursday, but then reportedly decided to extend his US visit through Saturday due to multiple requests for meetings by US officials.
The agendas of these meetings have not been made public. However, Netanyahu has indicated that he plans to continue Israel’s attacks in Gaza, the West Bank, and its neighbours.
“Netanyahu is the first foreign leader that Trump has invited as president. It’s so early that it really outlines what the priorities are for this administration,” Anyssa Dhadouadi, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement in the Washington, DC area (the DMV), told The New Arab.
“We’re continuing our demands from Netanyahu’s last visit — that he should be arrested on site as soon as he touches down, to end aid to Israel and to reject normalisation,” she said, referring to his arrest warrant with the International Criminal Court and suggestions of normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
“The masses are coming out tomorrow to echo these demands and express anger over the Trump administration and previous administrations in welcoming Netanyahu,” she said.
Iran on the agenda
Netanyahu is set to meet with Donald Trump on Tuesday. The two leaders are expected to discuss the future of the Gaza ceasefire and strategies to address Iran’s perceived threat to U.S interests and Israel. A joint press conference is anticipated after their discussions.
Their meeting comes as indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are scheduled to resume this week, focusing on the next phase of the ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, played a pivotal role in helping broker the Gaza ceasefire deal before Trump’s inauguration and is expected to remain closely involved in the next stages. The first phase of the agreement has resulted in Hamas releasing 18 hostages, while Israel has freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
While Trump has expressed hope for the ceasefire’s longevity, he acknowledged to reporters on Monday that there are no guarantees it will hold.
Trump indicated on Sunday that negotiations involving Israel and other nations in the Middle East were “progressing,” although he did not provide further specifics.
The region finds itself at a critical crossroads. The Gaza ceasefire remains fragile, and a similar truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is nearing its expiration. Meanwhile, concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions persist, despite the country’s weakened position.
During his first term, Trump secured several victories for Netanyahu, including the controversial relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and the Abraham Accords, which saw Israel normalise relations with several Arab nations. Shortly after his return to the White House, Trump approved a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, reversing a decision by the Biden administration.
Trump has remained a staunch ally of Israel, taking credit for brokering the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas even before his return to office. He has also expressed a desire to work towards the historic normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
However, the prime minister’s coalition faces demands from far-right members who threaten to destabilise Netanyahu’s government unless he resumes military operations in Gaza to fulfil his pledge to dismantle Iran-backed Hamas. Any return to conflict could complicate Trump’s efforts to bring Saudi Arabia to the negotiating table.
Netanyahu’s opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state could hinder progress in negotiations with Saudi Arabia, which has long insisted on at least a pathway to Palestinian statehood.
Trump has meanwhile stirred controversy with his proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in neighbouring countries like Egypt and Jordan, a suggestion that has been rejected by the governments of these nations.
Shibley Telhami, an expert on Middle Eastern affairs, noted that while Trump’s proposal might benefit Netanyahu’s interests, it undermines efforts to reach a deal with Saudi Arabia. “This push by Trump doesn’t square with the idea of a Palestinian state as we know it,” said Telhami. “It’s hard to see the Saudis going along with it.”
A key issue for both leaders will be Iran, which last year launched numerous missile and drone attacks on Israel, prompting Israeli retaliation that reportedly crippled Tehran’s air defences. Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran remains a focal point of his policy, and both he and Netanyahu have vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. However, there are growing concerns within Iran that Trump may greenlight Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities.
