Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington D.C. on Sunday to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to news reports.
Before departing, Netanyahu said cooperation with the new U.S. administration could reshape the Middle East.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump on Tuesday at the White House. Discussions are expected to focus on “defeating Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and addressing the Iranian threat.”
The Prime Minister asserted that being the first foreign leader to meet Trump since his inauguration highlights the strength of the Israeli-American alliance. He added that decisions made during the war had already changed the Middle East, and with Trump’s support, more positive changes could follow.
Netanyahu also hinted that Israel is working to improve ties with Saudi Arabia and is pushing for talks to negotiate formal relations. Although Saudi Arabia did not join the 2020 Abraham Accords, Israel aims to expand the agreement.
Trump is eager to use the Gaza ceasefire momentum to advance the accords, with Qatar possibly joining normalization talks, according to news reports.
Netanyahu’s visit comes as Israel faces critical decisions in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, which began in October 2023. While Netanyahu seeks a resolution, some of his far-right coalition partners are urging a return to fighting.