Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington as early as next week, according to reports by the Associated Press citing unnamed American officials.
If the trip materializes within this timeframe, Netanyahu would become the first foreign leader to visit the White House since Trump’s inauguration last week.
Trump’s special representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is also set to visit Israel this week to meet with Netanyahu and other officials. During the ceremonial opening of a New York synagogue on Sunday, Witkoff revealed he would be traveling to Israel on Wednesday to work on a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Witkoff is reportedly focusing on implementing the truce, supporting efforts to secure the release of American and other hostages held by Hamas, and bolstering the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
President Trump hinted at Netanyahu’s potential visit while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One but shared no specific details. “I’m going to talk to Bibi Netanyahu in the near future,” he said.
Meanwhile, an Israeli official has indicated that Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House in February, though an exact date has not been confirmed.
