WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to meet Tuesday as Netanyahu faces pressure from both his right-wing coalition and from Israelis longing for an end to the 15-month conflict with Hamas. The Israeli leader is caught between the demands of hardliners pushing for an end to a temporary truce and the calls of war-weary citizens who want the remaining hostages freed and the fighting to stop.
Trump remains cautious about the long-term viability of the truce, despite taking credit for brokering the ceasefire and hostage deal that took effect just before he returned to office last month.
“I have no guarantees that the peace is going to hold,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
The meeting will cover a range of issues, including a potential Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization deal and concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. However, the immediate priority will be working through the next phase of the hostage deal.
Netanyahu’s arrival in Washington marks the first foreign leader visit of Trump’s second term and comes at a time when Netanyahu’s domestic support is slipping. The prime minister is also in the midst of a corruption trial, facing accusations of exchanging favors with media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu has denied the charges, claiming he’s the victim of a political “witch hunt.”
The optics of meeting with Trump, who remains popular in Israel, could help shift focus away from the trial and boost Netanyahu’s public image.
This visit is Netanyahu’s first international travel since the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for him, his former defense minister, and the late Hamas military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. However, the U.S. does not recognize the ICC’s authority over its citizens or territory.
Netanyahu and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, began talks Monday to prepare for the next phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Netanyahu described his meeting with Witkoff and U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz as “positive and friendly,” and confirmed that Israel would send a delegation to Qatar to continue indirect talks with Hamas, which are being mediated by the Gulf state. He also said he would convene his security Cabinet upon his return to Israel to discuss the next steps in the ceasefire negotiations.
Netanyahu faces intense pressure from far-right coalition members, particularly Bezalel Smotrich, who has threatened to topple the government if the ceasefire isn’t abandoned and fighting resumes to eliminate Hamas. Hamas, which regained control over Gaza since the ceasefire began, has stated it will not release hostages in the second phase of the deal unless the war ends and Israeli forces fully withdraw. Netanyahu, however, insists Israel remains committed to defeating Hamas and securing the return of all hostages taken in the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war.
Mira Resnick, a former deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli and Palestinian affairs, suggests Trump may not have much patience for Netanyahu’s political struggles if they interfere with his broader objectives.
“The president started his term saying he wanted the ceasefire in place by Jan. 20,” Resnick said. “That’s what he got, and he’s taking credit for it.”
Einav Zangauker, whose son, Matan, is among the hostages, urged Trump to use U.S. influence to keep Netanyahu committed to the agreement.
“My son, Matan, is among those expected to be freed in the second phase,” Zangauker said. “I want President Trump to know that extreme elements in Israel are trying to undermine his vision.”
The second phase is expected to involve the exchange of all remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Since returning to office, Trump has advocated for the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring Egypt and Jordan, though both countries have rejected the proposal, as have other Arab nations. Trump remains optimistic that the U.S. can convince Egypt and Jordan to accept displaced Palestinians, using American aid as leverage. Hard-right members of Netanyahu’s government support the idea of moving Palestinians out of Gaza.
However, Shibley Telhami, an expert on Middle East policy at the University of Maryland, argues that Trump’s push to move Palestinians from Gaza undermines efforts to secure a Saudi-Israel normalization deal. Saudi Arabia has made it clear it would only agree to normalization if the war ends and there is a viable path to a Palestinian state.
“This proposal doesn’t align with the idea of a Palestinian state,” Telhami said. “It’s hard to see the Saudis supporting it.”
Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Israel, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and evangelical leaders on Monday also highlighted tensions over the Palestinian issue. Huckabee has long opposed the creation of a Palestinian state in lands Israel has taken.
The Israeli leader is also expected to push Trump for stronger action against Iran, which has suffered significant military setbacks, including Israeli strikes on Hamas and Hezbollah, and a recent operation that crippled Iran’s air defenses. Netanyahu believes these setbacks create a window for more decisive action on Iran’s nuclear program.
“This is one of the most important and critical meetings between an American president and an Israeli prime minister,” said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Bar-Ilan University. “What’s at stake here is not just bilateral relations between the two countries, but the reshaping of the entire Middle East.”
