KATHMANDU: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump will receive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday. Trump announced the meeting on Tuesday via Truth Social, his social media site, and expressed excitement about the visit. This will be their first meeting since Trump's administration when they formed a strong partnership.
The timing of this meeting is strategic given the current political relationship between Netanyahu and the current Democratic American president Joe Biden mainly due to the continued conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The declaration comes as Trump shared the letter from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wishing Trump well after the rally in Pennsylvania where he was attacked. Trump also said that he is eager to talk to Netanyahu about the peace on the Middle East.
Netanyahu's prior gesture of congratulating Biden on his 2020 election victory had upset Trump, who had falsely claimed the election was stolen. The Israeli embassy in Washington has not commented on this but Netanyahu wanted this in-person meeting during his visit to Washington recently.
Netanyahu will also address Congress on Wednesday, seeking ongoing backing for Israel's military activities in Gaza. He will also meet with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who have recently entered the 2024 presidential race. Netanyahu appears to be prepared for a variety of outcomes in the next US election, with polls indicating a close race.
During Trump's presidency, he and Netanyahu worked closely together on important achievements like moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and signing the Abraham Accords, which restored relations between Israel and numerous Arab states. Trump criticized Netanyahu over security concerns raised by the recent Hamas attack, emphasizing the importance of Israel securing captives and resolving the Gaza conflict as soon as possible.
