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Upcoming White House Talks

Washington: Next Monday, President Donald Trump is set to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for discussions, as confirmed by two officials from the US administration.

This meeting occurs as Trump intensifies efforts to persuade the Israeli government to negotiate a ceasefire and a hostage agreement, aiming to conclude the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the visit, noted that it has not yet been publicly announced.

Netanyahu's trip follows Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer's recent discussions in Washington regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, as well as issues related to Iran.

In his public statements, Trump has indicated a shift in focus towards resolving the hostilities between Israel and Hamas, particularly since a ceasefire was established a week ago to end 12 days of conflict.

On Friday, Trump expressed optimism, stating, 'We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire' in Gaza, although he did not elaborate on the basis for his confidence.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned earlier that Trump and his team are in regular contact with Israeli leaders, emphasizing that ending the Gaza conflict is a top priority for the administration.

'It’s heartbreaking to see the images emerging from both Israel and Gaza during this war, and the president is eager to see it come to an end. He wants to save lives,' Leavitt remarked.

Axios was the first to report the timing of Netanyahu's visit.

As Trump meets with Netanyahu, he will likely face challenging questions from Democratic lawmakers and others regarding the effectiveness of US and Israeli military actions in hindering Iran's nuclear ambitions.

A preliminary report from the US Defense Intelligence Agency indicated that the strikes inflicted considerable damage on the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities, though they were not completely destroyed.

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated on CBS's 'Face the Nation' that the three Iranian sites, which have capabilities for uranium treatment, conversion, and enrichment, have been significantly damaged, but some infrastructure remains intact.

He noted that if Iran chooses to resume its activities, it could do so, pending access for inspectors to fully assess the damage.

Recently, Trump has also engaged in Israeli domestic politics, advocating for the dismissal of corruption charges against Netanyahu.

In a social media post last week, Trump labeled the trial a 'WITCH HUNT' and asserted that the US would intervene to protect Netanyahu from serious allegations.

This involvement in Israel's contentious political landscape has raised concerns among some Israeli politicians.

Additionally, the Trump administration has approved a new arms sale to Israel, valued at $510 million, to replenish its military with precision munitions guidance kits.

The State Department confirmed that the sale includes over 7,000 guidance kits for two types of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs).

While this deal is relatively modest compared to the more than $3 billion in annual military aid the US provides to Israel, it underscores Israel's reliance on JDAMs and other US weaponry in its ongoing conflict with Hamas and recent operations against Iran.

'The United States is committed to Israel's security, and it is crucial for US national interests to support Israel in developing and maintaining a robust self-defense capability. This proposed sale aligns with those goals,' the department stated.

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