Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife landed in Washington D.C. on Sunday evening and were greeted by Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter.
Shortly later, Netanyahu and his entourage rushed to the Blair House for a meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The meeting, which focused on the 17% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Israel, was described by the Prime Minister’s Office as “warm, friendly, and productive.”
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday at 1 p.m., and the two will hold a joint press conference following the meeting.
There has been speculation in the Israeli press about the main issues the two leaders will discuss. Economic and trade issues will be on the agenda but some commentators believe that the main issue up for discussion is the Iranian nuclear issue.
Trump reportedly pressured Netanyahu to fly directly to the US from Budapest and was not amenable to a suggestion to push off the meeting until “after the holidays.” The US is preparing the ground for an attack on Iran, but at the same time is seeking direct or indirect talks between Washington and Tehran. Part of the US preparation is coordinating with Israel on Iran.
Tehran on Sunday issued threats towards its neighbors in the Middle East, saying that it will view countries that cooperate with a US attack as launching a direct act of war against the Islamic Republic.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One Response
When is Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu going to have time to help שרה Kascher their kitchen & get ready in time for פסח? I hope he isn’t banking on last minute chores realizing there is a 25 hour hiatus immediately prior to סדר night due to שבת קודש