In a high-stakes Oval Office meeting on Monday that spanned diplomacy, defense, and economic reform, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump announced a sweeping commitment to deepen U.S.-Israel ties—starting with trade and extending into negotiations with Iran, the Gaza war, and the broader Middle East.

Netanyahu began with a bold pledge: Israel will eliminate all trade barriers with the United States, a move he said would also “eliminate the trade deficit.”

“Israel can serve as a model for other countries that strive to do the same,” Netanyahu said, expressing support for Trump’s broader tariff policies. “I’m a free trade advocate, but free trade has to be fair trade.”

Trump, standing beside Netanyahu, praised the move and linked it to his aggressive tariff strategy. “Even Netanyahu started off our conversation today by saying that he’s cutting off all of the tariffs, everything. He’s going to get down to a free base,” Trump said.

Trump revealed that the U.S. is engaged in direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program—a surprising development that he said could either lead to a deal or dangerous escalation.

“We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started. It’ll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting, and we’ll see what can happen,” Trump said, noting that diplomacy is the preferred path. “Maybe a deal’s going to be made; that would be great. It would be really great for Iran.”

Still, Trump issued a warning: “If the talks aren’t successful… it’ll be a very bad day for Iran. Iran will be in great danger. I hate to say it. Great danger… It’s not a complicated formula. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

Asked how any new agreement would differ from the 2015 JCPOA he withdrew from in his first term, Trump responded: “It’ll be different and maybe a lot stronger.”

Netanyahu, while cautious, voiced conditional support: “We’re both united in the goal that Iran does not get nuclear weapons. If it can be done diplomatically, in a full way—the way it was done in Libya—I think that would be a good thing. But whatever happens, we have to make sure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons.”

Turning to Gaza, both leaders confirmed that negotiations are underway on a hostage release and ceasefire deal.

“We’re working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we’re committed to getting all the hostages out,” Netanyahu said. “The hostages are in agony, and we want to get them all out.”

Trump echoed the urgency: “We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We are looking at another ceasefire; we’ll see what happens. We want to get the hostages out. The Israeli people want the hostages out. More than anything, they want the hostages out.”

“I said to them (the former hostages), was there any sign of love? Did Hamas show any signs of, like, help or liking you? Did they give you a piece of bread extra? Did they give you a meal on the side? Like what happened in Germany?… They said – no… they slapped us”

He added, praising Netanyahu’s efforts: “This man is working very hard with us to do that… I hope he’s being appreciated because he’s been a great leader.”

Netanyahu responded, “I have a good partner.”
Trump replied, “You do have a good partner, and so do we.”

Trump also said he believed the Gaza war “will stop at some point that won’t be in the too distant future.”

Netanyahu again lauded Trump’s controversial plan to relocate displaced Gazans while Gaza is rebuilt. “Gazans are being locked in,” Netanyahu said. “We didn’t lock them in. We are not holding them in.”

He contrasted the situation to conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, where refugees were allowed to flee. Netanyahu said that discussions are ongoing with countries potentially willing to accept Gazans, though he did not name them.

Trump added: “Gaza should never have been given away by Israel, I don’t know why they did it. I do know—because they were promised peace. But that did not work out. Gaza is a dangerous death trap.”

Addressing regional tensions, Trump revealed he would be willing to mediate between Israel and Turkey, whose interests are clashing over influence in Syria.

He said he has a “great relationship” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he called “very smart.” He praised Erdogan for doing “what nobody has done in 2,000 years—taking over Syria.”

Turning to Netanyahu, Trump offered: “Any problem that you have with Turkey, I think we can solve, as long as you are reasonable. You have to be reasonable.”

Israel has expressed growing concern about Turkish military entrenchment in Syria, which could hinder Israeli air operations in the region. Netanyahu did not respond to Trump’s offer but has previously taken a hard line against Erdogan’s foreign policy.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)