Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited former President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. This meeting took place during Netanyahu’s week-long trip to the United States, which has been marked by protests, boycotts from American politicians, and warnings from human rights organizations following Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza.
Trump, who is currently a Republican candidate for the presidential election in November, dismissed any suggestion of tension between himself and Netanyahu. The meeting with Trump followed Netanyahu’s discussions with current President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, both of whom are expected to run against Trump. During the meeting, Trump criticized Harris for her comments regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza, labeling her remarks as “disrespectful.”
Netanyahu announced that Israel would send a negotiation team to Rome to discuss a proposed ceasefire in Gaza, which he suggested could occur “likely at the beginning of the week.” Netanyahu has long been adept at navigating the shifting political landscape in the U.S., and his visit to Trump is viewed as an attempt to restore connections ahead of the upcoming election on November 5.
Trump, who served as president from January 2017 to January 2021, had a conciliatory approach to U.S.-Israel relations that provided Netanyahu with greater freedom, while largely sidelining Palestinian interests. However, relations between Netanyahu and Trump became strained after Netanyahu acknowledged Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, leading to Trump’s public dissatisfaction. Prior to meeting Trump, Netanyahu reportedly reestablished contact with him and initiated a charm offensive.
In his speech to Congress, Netanyahu referenced several of Trump’s actions during his presidency, including the so-called Abraham Accords, which led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Trump later thanked Netanyahu during an interview on Fox News.
After meeting with Trump, Netanyahu also spoke with Biden, who pressed for a ceasefire in Gaza. According to Palestinian officials, at least 39,175 people have been killed, and 90,403 have been injured in the conflict that erupted following Hamas’s attack on October 7.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has intensified its rhetoric toward Israeli officials but continues to provide political and military support to Israel. Amnesty International recently stated that the U.S. “places itself in a position” that could implicate it in war crimes committed by Israel, as the country has allegedly used American weapons in such violations.
Harris, expected to be the official Democratic presidential candidate next month, has also made headlines since her meeting with Netanyahu, where she emphasized that the war “is not a binary issue” and called for acknowledgment of the humanitarian crisis. However, reactions to her statements from Netanyahu’s right-wing allies have been harsh, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responding: “There will be no cessation of hostilities.”