He has repeated over and over that he is the first foreign leader to be received by Donald Trump since the latter took office. The first to be hosted for the 14th time, more than any other sitting leader, at Blair House, the historic residence where guests of US presidents stay. But, expected at the White House on Tuesday, February 4, Benjamin Netanyahu's room for maneuver is shrinking, under pressure from the new US administration and internally, because of his faltering coalition.
The Israeli prime minister accepted the agreement between Israel and Hamas only under duress from Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. And the new American leader was very clear: He wants to see the ceasefire through to the end, to see all Israeli hostages released, including the bodies of those who have died. Negotiations on the second phase of the agreement, to transform the current truce into a lasting calm, are due to start on Tuesday. More Palestinian prisoners are to be released, and the Israeli army is to withdraw entirely from Gaza.
Other issues to be discussed at the meeting will be the normalization project between Saudi Arabia and Israel, dear to Trump's heart, and the Iranian nuclear issue, which he wants to settle by diplomatic rather than military means, according to the media the Truth Social network: Peace through strength.
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