Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has returned from a hastily arranged visit to Washington with little to show, following what insiders describe as a tense and unproductive meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The trip, billed as an opportunity to strengthen ties and address urgent security and trade issues, instead exposed cracks in the once-solid relationship between the two leaders.
Netanyahu traveled to the White House on Monday with a packed agenda, seeking support on Iran’s escalating nuclear ambitions, the deepening war in Gaza, growing Turkish influence in Syria, and Trump’s new tariff regime. But during a one-hour Oval Office meeting, Trump appeared to dismiss or complicate many of Netanyahu’s core concerns, according to multiple reports.
Despite the challenges, Netanyahu publicly praised the visit, describing it on Tuesday as a “very good visit” with successes “on all fronts.” However, a source familiar with the discussions said the Israeli delegation left disappointed, believing the meeting failed to yield concrete results.
“Netanyahu didn’t hear exactly what he wanted to hear, so he returns back home with very little,” said Nadav Eyal, a political commentator for the Yediot Ahronot daily. Still, Eyal noted the tone of the meeting remained cordial, despite the underlying tensions.
The visit comes at a delicate moment in Middle East geopolitics. Last month, Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza, breaking a Trump-endorsed ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel’s long-running standoff with Iran has intensified, with concerns mounting over Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
Netanyahu’s allies had been optimistic about renewed US support under Trump’s second term, particularly after the former president’s unwavering pro-Israel stance during his first administration.
Trump has staffed his new cabinet with staunchly pro-Israel figures and reversed the Biden administration’s critical posture toward Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
However, Monday’s meeting signaled a shift in dynamics. While Trump remains supportive in principle, his willingness to openly challenge Netanyahu’s priorities suggests a more complex and unpredictable relationship in his second term.
Netanyahu’s quick trip to Washington may have been designed to project strength and alignment with the White House, but it appears to have highlighted the growing limits of that alliance at a time when Israel faces deepening challenges both at home and abroad.
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