U.S. President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting at the White House in the near future, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office on Monday. The call between the two leaders also focused on the ongoing situation in Gaza and followed a public push by Trump for Israel to engage in direct dialogue with its neighbour, Syria.
White House Meeting and Middle East Diplomacy
The planned visit would mark Netanyahu's fifth trip to the White House since Trump returned to office in January. While the two leaders have consistently showcased a close alliance, sources from both the U.S. and Israel have indicated that Trump has occasionally expressed frustration with the Israeli prime minister behind the scenes.
During their conversation, Netanyahu and Trump discussed efforts to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip. This follows a peace plan for Gaza announced by Trump in September and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has been holding since October.
Trump's Push for Israel-Syria Dialogue
In a separate statement issued shortly before the call was revealed, President Trump emphasized the importance of Israel maintaining a "strong and true dialogue" with Syria. He stated that nothing should interfere with Syria's evolution into a prosperous state and predicted a long and prosperous relationship between the two nations.
The Trump administration is reportedly attempting to broker a non-aggression pact between Israel and Syria. This diplomatic effort is complicated by the fact that Syria does not formally recognize Israel. Israel has occupied Syrian territory, including the Golan Heights since 1967—a move the U.S. recognizes but most other countries do not. Israel's occupation expanded to more Syrian territory in December 2024.
Trump has backed Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, while Israel has viewed him with hostility due to his past links to Islamist militancy and has lobbied Washington to keep Syria in a weakened state. Tensions were recently underscored by an Israeli raid in southern Syria on Friday, which Syrian state media said killed 13 Syrians. The Israeli military stated the target was a Lebanese Islamist militant group operating in the area.
Netanyahu's Domestic Legal Challenges
The high-level diplomatic call occurred just one day after Netanyahu formally asked Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, for a pardon in his long-running corruption trial. President Trump has publicly voiced his support for pardoning Netanyahu and sent a letter to President Herzog last month urging him to consider it.
The official readout of the call from the Prime Minister's office did not mention the pardon request. The move has been met with opposition from Israeli politicians, who have called on Netanyahu to resign instead.
The invitation and discussions highlight the continuing, complex interplay between Middle East diplomacy and domestic Israeli politics, with the U.S. president actively engaging on multiple fronts.
