Donald Trump has billed Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House on Monday as a “celebration” of the strikes on Iran.

But it will also come with trickier talks about a ceasefire in Gaza, and what comes next in the Middle East.

Those two strands illustrate the complex relationship between an America First president and an Israeli ally worried about how Mr Trump has gone it alone when it has suited him.

When Mr Trump welcomes Mr Netanyahu into the Oval Office, he will know the Israeli prime minister holds the key to unlocking his grand vision for the Middle East.

A normalisation deal between the Jewish state and Saudi Arabia is the great unfinished business of the Abraham Accords brokered in his first term, which saw Israel establish diplomatic links with the UAE, Bahrain and others.

Mohammed Bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, has made it clear that there can be no hope of that until the war is ended and, at the very least, the Palestinian people are put on a meaningful path to statehood.

At times, the delicate balancing act Mr Trump must perform – supporting Israel, while being mindful of the views of America’s Arab allies – has generated headlines about rifts over bombing Iran or the need to end the war in Gaza.

But insiders say the relationship – between two men who see themselves in each other, and have sometimes used misdirection to hide their mutual plans – is closer than you think.

“Netanyahu, you know, he’s sort of like Trump,” said a source close to the White House describing Mr Trump’s view of their connection. “He’s disliked, hated by a lot of people, but he wins.”

Rollercoaster of highs and lows

The low point in their relationship came after the 2020 election, he added, when Mr Netanyahu congratulated Joe Biden on his victory.

“I haven’t spoken to him since. F--- him,” Mr Trump was quoted as saying at the time.

Yet Mr Netanyahu now holds a privileged place. He is making his third visit to the White House in less than six months.

Top of the agenda will be what comes next in stifling Iran’s nuclear programme and a deal to release the last hostages held by Hamas.

Mr Trump has ramped up expectations of a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, although a source said the meeting on Monday was being “low keyed”, without high hopes of a major breakthrough.