Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel traveled to Washington on Sunday for meetings this week with President Donald J. Trump and senior administration officials at a central moment for the Middle East.
Mr Trump made it clear that he wants the wars in the Middle East until he ended after the October 2023 attack led by Hamas in Israel, began 15 months of devastating conflict in Gaza, which also spread to Lebanon. Prior to boarding his plane on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu talked about enlargement of peace in the area.
“The decisions we made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East,” Mr Netanyahu said. “I believe that we can enhance security, broaden the cycle of peace and achieve a remarkable era of peace through power,” he added.
Mr Netanyahu is expected to be the first foreign leader to meet with Mr Trump from his inauguration last month. The Israeli leader is expected to have formative discussions with Trump’s administration on several critical regional issues.
Negotiations are supposed to begin Monday for the second phase of the Gaza cease agreement that will turn a temporary truce into a permanent cessation of hostilities and see the release of hostages still held there. In addition, the ceasefire of US cease ceasefire is expected to end on February 18, when both the Israeli army and Hezbollah must have evacuated the southern part of this country.
The general issues for the future of the Middle East also remain on the agenda. These include the limitation of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the support of armed attorneys at the Israeli border, as well as the possibility of a large deal that includes official links between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a more important regional player.
Mr Netanyahu said from the asphalt on Sunday that the issues discussed with Mr Trump include “a victory over Hamas, achieving the liberation of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terrorist axis in all its components”.
His office said Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet with Steve Witkoff, the Middle East of Mr. Trump, Monday and Mr Trump on Tuesday.
Mr Netanyahu spoke with Mr Witkoff on Saturday and the two men agreed to start negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza deal at their meeting on Monday, Mr Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, indicating that Mr. .
There was no direct comment by the White House or Mr. Witkoff.
