Trump and Netanyahu may take a victory lap on Iran, but the Gaza war looms over their meeting
But as they meet for the third time this year, the outwardly triumphant visit will be dogged by Israel's 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza and questions over how hard Trump will push for an end to the conflict.
Trump has made clear that following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, he would like to see the Gaza conflict end soon. The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to a U.S. ceasefire proposal being discussed by Israel and Hamas, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear.
'The optics will be very positive,' said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington. 'But behind the victory lap are going to be some very serious questions.'
Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the cooperation with the U.S. for bringing a 'huge victory over our shared enemy.' He struck a positive note on a ceasefire for Gaza, saying he was working 'to achieve the deal under discussion, on the terms we agreed to.'
'I think that the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance that result, which all of us hope for,' Netanyahu said.
'It changes from day to day'
Israel and Hamas appear to be inching toward a new ceasefire agreement that would bring about a 60-day pause in the fighting, send aid flooding into Gaza and free at least some of the remaining 50 hostages held in the territory.
But a perennial sticking point is whether the ceasefire will end the war altogether. Hamas has said it is willing to free all the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu says the war will end once Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile — something it refuses to do.
Trump has made it clear that he wants to be known as a peacemaker. He has repeatedly trumpeted recent peace deals that his administration facilitated between India and Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and Israel and Iran, and for years has made little secret of the fact that he covets a Nobel Peace Prize.
He has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to wrap up their own conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, ravaged Gaza, deepened Israel's international isolation and made any resolution to the broader conflict between Israel and the Palestinians more distant than ever.
But the precise details of the deal, and whether it can lead to an end to the war, are still in flux. In the days before Netanyahu's visit, Trump seemed to downplay the chances for a breakthrough.
Asked on Friday how confident he was a ceasefire deal would come together, Trump told reporters: 'I'm very optimistic — but you know, look, it changes from day to day.'
On Sunday evening, he seemed to narrow his expectation, telling reporters that he thought an agreement related to the remaining hostages would be reached in the coming week.
Trump and Netanyahu are more in sync than ever
Those mood swings also have embodied Trump's relationship with Netanyahu.
After Trump's decision to get involved in Israel's war in Iran with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the two leaders are more in sync than ever. But that's not always been the case.
As recently as Netanyahu's last visit to Washington in April, the tone was markedly different.
Trump used the photo-op with Netanyahu to announce that the U.S. was entering into negotiations with Iran over its nuclear deal — appearing to catch the Israeli leader off guard and at the time, slamming the brakes on any Israeli military plan.
He also praised Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a fierce critic of Israel's, in front of Netanyahu, and the two made no apparent progress on a trade deal at the height of Trump's tariff expansion.
Trump, whose policies have largely aligned with Israel's own priorities, pledged last week to be 'very firm' with Netanyahu on ending the war, without saying what that would entail. Pressure by Trump has worked on Netanyahu in the past, with a ceasefire deal having been reached right as the president was taking office again.
Netanyahu has to balance the demands of his American ally with the far-right parties in his governing coalition who hold the key to his political survival and oppose ending the war.
But given the strong U.S. support in Israel's war against Iran, highlighted by joint airstrikes on a fortified underground Iranian nuclear site, Netanyahu may have a tough time saying no.
On Sunday evening, Trump said one of the matters he expected to discuss with Netanyahu 'is probably a permanent deal with Iran.'
Trump also may expect something in return for his recent calls for Netanyahu's corruption trial to be canceled — a significant interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state.
'Trump thinks that Netanyahu owes him,' said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel affairs at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. 'And if Trump thinks that he needs to end the war In Gaza, then that is what he will need to do.'
Trump's regional vision
The two men will likely discuss the ceasefire with Iran and how to respond to any perceived violations.
But beyond Iran is Trump's grand vision for a new Middle East, where he hopes that additional countries will join the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel brokered during Trump's first term.
Netanyahu and Trump are likely to discuss how to bring Syria into the fold. The country, a longtime enemy of Israel's, has new leadership after the fall of President Bashar Assad, and experts say conditions might be ripe for some kind of nonbelligerency agreement.
Sundays
Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba.
But Trump's ultimate goal is to include regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis, whose clout could open the door for other Arab or Muslim countries to join, have expressed interest in normalizing ties with Israel but only if it is accompanied by serious steps toward resolving Israel's conflict with the Palestinians. For starters, that would seem to require action in Gaza.
'The most important thing (for Trump) is to end the war in Gaza,' Gilboa said. 'That is the key to all the regional peace in the Middle East.'
___
Price reported from Washington.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Trump says U.S. will 'have to' send Ukraine more weapons so it can defend itself
Social Sharing U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that his country will have to send more weapons to Ukraine so that it can defend itself. The comments by Trump appeared to be an abrupt change in posture after the Pentagon announced last week that it would hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defence missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons amid U.S. concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much. "We have to," Trump told reporters about additional weapons deliveries for Ukraine. "They have to be able to defend themselves." Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 11 civilians and injured more than 80 others, including seven children, officials said Monday. The move to abruptly pause shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided rockets, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds and weaponry took Ukrainian officials and other allies by surprise. The pause had come at a difficult moment for Ukraine, which has faced increasing, and more complex, air barrages from Russia during the more than three-year-long war. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the paused weapons shipments to Ukraine would resume. Trump maintains he's determined to quickly conclude a conflict that he had promised as a candidate that he could end within 24 hours. Trump, speaking at the start of a dinner he was hosting for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday evening, vented his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has struggled to find a resolution to the the brutal war. "I'm not happy with President Putin at all," Trump said. Russia launched its full-scale of invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022. The two countries have been a state of all-out war ever since. The strain of 3 years of war Russia fired more than 100 drones at civilian areas of Ukraine overnight, authorities said. Russia recently has intensified its airstrikes on civilian areas after more than three years of war. WATCH | What does Putin want? What Russia wants in order to end its war in Ukraine 3 days ago Duration 10:32 In the past week, Russia launched some 1,270 drones, 39 missiles and almost 1,000 powerful glide bombs at Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday. Russia's bigger army is also trying hard to break through at some points along the roughly 1,000-kilometre front line, where Ukrainian forces are severely stretched. The strain of keeping Russia's invasion at bay, the lack of progress in direct peace talks, and last week's halt of some promised U.S. weapons shipments have compelled Ukraine to seek more military help from the U.S. and Europe. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said earlier Monday that the pause in weapons to Ukraine came as part of a "standard review of all weapons and all aid" that the U.S. "is providing all countries and all regions around the world. Not just Ukraine." Leavitt said U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the global review of weapons and aid to ensure that "everything that's going out the door aligns with America's interests." Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukraine had signed deals with European allies and a leading U.S. defence company to step up drone production, ensuring Kyiv receives "hundreds of thousands" more this year. "Air defence is the main thing for protecting life," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Monday. That includes developing and manufacturing interceptor drones that can stop Russia's long-range Shahed drones, he said.
Vancouver Sun
an hour ago
- Vancouver Sun
UN adopts Afghanistan resolution criticizing Taliban rule and treatment of women
UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday over U.S. objections calling on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to reverse their worsening oppression of women and girls and eliminate all terrorist organizations. The 11-page resolution also emphasizes 'the importance of creating opportunities for economic recovery, development and prosperity in Afghanistan,' and urges donors to address the country's dire humanitarian and economic crisis. The resolution is not legally binding but is seen as a reflection of world opinion. The vote was 116 in favour, with two — the United States and close ally Israel — opposed and 12 abstentions, including Russia, China, India and Iran. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Since returning to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures, banning women from public places and girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Last week, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban's government. Germany's UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse, whose country sponsored the resolution, told the assembly before the vote that her country and many others remain gravely concerned about the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the Taliban's 'near-total erasure' of the rights of women and girls. The core message of the resolution, she said, is to tell Afghan mothers holding sick and underfed children or mourning victims of terrorist attacks, as well as the millions of Afghan women and girls locked up at home, that they have not been forgotten. U.S. representative Jonathan Shrier was critical of the resolution, which he said rewards 'the Taliban's failure with more engagement and more resources.' He said the Trump administration doubts they will ever pursue policies 'in accordance with the expectations of the international community.' 'For decades we shouldered the burden of supporting the Afghan people with time, money and, most important, American lives,' he said. 'It is the time for the Taliban to step up. The United States will no longer enable their heinous behaviour.' Last month, the Trump administration banned Afghans hoping to resettle in the U.S. permanently and those seeking to come temporarily, with exceptions. The resolution expresses appreciation to governments hosting Afghan refugees, singling out the two countries that have taken the most: Iran and Pakistan. Shrier also objected to this, accusing Iran of executing Afghans 'at an alarming rate without due process' and forcibly conscripting Afghans into its militias. While the resolution notes improvements in Afghanistan's overall security situation, it reiterates concern about attacks by al-Qaida and Islamic State militants and their affiliates. It calls upon Afghanistan 'to take active measures to tackle, dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organizations equally and without discrimination.' The General Assembly also encouraged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a coordinator to facilitate 'a more coherent, coordinated and structured approach' to its international engagements on Afghanistan. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
an hour ago
- Edmonton Journal
UN adopts Afghanistan resolution criticizing Taliban rule and treatment of women
UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday over U.S. objections calling on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to reverse their worsening oppression of women and girls and eliminate all terrorist organizations. Article content The 11-page resolution also emphasizes 'the importance of creating opportunities for economic recovery, development and prosperity in Afghanistan,' and urges donors to address the country's dire humanitarian and economic crisis. Article content Article content Article content The resolution is not legally binding but is seen as a reflection of world opinion. The vote was 116 in favour, with two — the United States and close ally Israel — opposed and 12 abstentions, including Russia, China, India and Iran. Article content Article content Since returning to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures, banning women from public places and girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Last week, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban's government. Article content Germany's UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse, whose country sponsored the resolution, told the assembly before the vote that her country and many others remain gravely concerned about the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the Taliban's 'near-total erasure' of the rights of women and girls. Article content The core message of the resolution, she said, is to tell Afghan mothers holding sick and underfed children or mourning victims of terrorist attacks, as well as the millions of Afghan women and girls locked up at home, that they have not been forgotten. Article content Article content U.S. representative Jonathan Shrier was critical of the resolution, which he said rewards 'the Taliban's failure with more engagement and more resources.' He said the Trump administration doubts they will ever pursue policies 'in accordance with the expectations of the international community.' Article content 'For decades we shouldered the burden of supporting the Afghan people with time, money and, most important, American lives,' he said. 'It is the time for the Taliban to step up. The United States will no longer enable their heinous behaviour.' Article content Last month, the Trump administration banned Afghans hoping to resettle in the U.S. permanently and those seeking to come temporarily, with exceptions. Article content The resolution expresses appreciation to governments hosting Afghan refugees, singling out the two countries that have taken the most: Iran and Pakistan. Shrier also objected to this, accusing Iran of executing Afghans 'at an alarming rate without due process' and forcibly conscripting Afghans into its militias.
