Netanyahu will meet Trump next Monday at the White House
Israeli media reported on Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, may meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House next Monday to discuss several issues, including the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip and the new customs duties imposed by the US on Israel.
According to Israeli Walla website, who quoted four unnamed sources as saying, “If Netanyahu visits Washington, he won’t return from Hungary, where he has been visiting since Wednesday, but will head directly to Washington on Sunday”.
The sources added that Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to meet with Trump since he announced his tariff plan, which shook the American and global economy.
On Wednesday, Trump announced the imposition of a 17% tariff on Israel due to the large trade deficit between the two sides, as Israel exports far more goods to the United States than it imports from it.
The US president had imposed tariffs on all countries, including allies and adversaries, with a minimum of 10 percent, considering what happened a long-awaited day of liberation and a declaration of American economic independence.
Israel attempted to prevent the imposition of tariffs when it announced on Tuesday that it would reduce tariffs on goods imported from the United States to zero, but to no avail.
Trump previously indicated that Netanyahu would likely visit the United States early next week.
Trump revealed the expected visit in remarks to reporters on Thursday following a phone call with the Israeli Prime Minister.
Netanyahu’s potential visit coincides with an intensification of Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians.
This will be Netanyahu’s second visit to the United States since Trump was re-elected president on January 20.
In February 2025, Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to visit Trump after his inauguration, visiting him at a time when the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip was still in effect, even though Tel Aviv hadn’t adhered to all of its terms.
Netanyahu visited the United States despite the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant issued against him in November 2024 for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The court does not have the police force to enforce its decision, but its 124 member states are legally obligated to arrest him if he enters their territory and hand him over to the court for legal action, however, the United States isn’t a member.
According to Walla website, senior US and Israeli officials expect Netanyahu’s visit to the United States to take place within the next few weeks or during the Passover holiday, which begins on April 14.
However, during talks held Friday between the White House and Netanyahu’s office, a plan began to take shape for a meeting at the White House next Monday.
According to the sources, Trump and Netanyahu will discuss the issue of tariffs during their upcoming meeting, as well as “US efforts to begin negotiations with Iran on a new nuclear agreement”.
In this context, the website quoted an unnamed senior Israeli official as saying, “Netanyahu believes the chances of reaching a nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran are extremely low, but he wants to reach an understanding with Trump regarding military action against Iranian nuclear facilities after the failure of diplomacy”.
The source also indicated that Trump and Netanyahu are also expected to discuss the war in Gaza and efforts to reach a new ceasefire agreement and release the kidnapped soldiers.
Israel has intensified its ground operations and airstrikes against various areas of the Gaza Strip in recent days, after completely violating the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Netanyahu has vowed to escalate the genocide there and implement Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians.
