Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Donald Trump on Monday at 1 PM local time (1700 GMT) at the White House.
The highly anticipated summit will cover various important issues, with both leaders seeking to strengthen the US-Israel alliance and address challenges impacting their countries.
The primary issues on the table will include the recent tariffs imposed by President Trump on Israeli goods, the ongoing hostage situation with Hamas, tensions between Israel and Türkiye in Syria, and their shared efforts to counter Iran’s influence and its proxy network in the region.
Both leaders are expected to hold discussions on these topics in order to align their strategies and ensure the stability of their long-standing relationship.
One of the major points of contention in the meeting will be the 17% tariff that President Trump imposed on Israeli goods last Wednesday.
This move is part of President Trump’s broader ‘reciprocal tariffs’ strategy, which aims to apply tariffs on all trading partners that do not maintain what he considers fair trade practices.
The timing of this decision is significant, as it came just a day after Israel lifted all tariffs on imports from the United States.
Despite this gesture, President Trump went ahead with the tariffs, signaling a shift in the trade dynamics between the two nations.
The United States remains one of Israel’s top trading partners, with bilateral goods trade expected to reach around $37 billion in 2024, according to figures from the US Trade Representative.
The decision to impose tariffs could have a significant impact on this trade, and Netanyahu will likely seek to address the issue during the talks.
Another crucial subject of discussion will be the ongoing hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas kidnapped 251 hostages during its attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
As of now, Hamas holds 59 hostages in Gaza, and authorities presume 35 are dead.
A phased ceasefire deal between the two sides collapsed on March 18, after Israel refused to move forward with the second phase of the deal, resuming air and ground assaults on Gaza.
Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have made efforts to revive negotiations, but they have not achieved a breakthrough so far.
Netanyahu and President Trump are expected to address these critical issues as both countries work together to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
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