WASHINGTON, Feb 4 : When Benjamin Netanyahu meets U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, the Israeli prime minister is expected to try to turn the page on sometimes tense relations with the Biden White House as the two leaders address the future of the Gaza ceasefire and ways to counter Iran.
But Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to be hosted by Trump since his Jan. 20 inauguration, could also come under pressure from the staunchly pro-Israel president whose policy goals for the Middle East may not always coincide with Netanyahu's interests.
They will meet just as indirect negotiations are due to resume this week between Israel and Hamas on the second stage of the ceasefire deal and hostage release. The two leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference.
Previewing the meeting, Trump told reporters on Sunday that discussions with Israel and other countries on the Middle East were "progressing." But he offered no details.
The region is at a critical juncture, with the Gaza truce fragile, a parallel uneasy Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement in Lebanon nearing possible expiration in coming weeks and concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions persisting despite its weakened state.
In his first term, Trump handed Netanyahu a series of successes, including relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv and the signing of the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states.
He remains a strong supporter of U.S. ally Israel, taking credit for helping broker the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave even before he returned to office, while insisting he wants to end the wars in the Middle East. —REUTERS
