Former President Donald Trump is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Friday. The planned meeting coincides with Netanyahu’s visit to the United States, which comes amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu is scheduled to first visit Washington D.C., where he will address Congress on Wednesday and meet with President Biden for a bilateral meeting on Thursday afternoon. He will also join Biden in meeting with the families of Americans held hostage by Hamas.
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, took to his Truth Social platform to express his anticipation for the meeting, stating, “Looking forward to welcoming Bibi Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.” He went on to highlight his achievements during his first term, emphasizing the peace and stability achieved in the region, including the signing of the historic Abraham Accords. “During my first term, we had Peace and Stability in the Region, even signing the historic Abraham Accords – And we will have it again,” Trump asserted. He further emphasized that his ‘PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH’ agenda is essential for ending the ongoing wars and conflicts. “Just as I have said in discussions with President Zelensky and other World Leaders in recent weeks, my PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH Agenda will demonstrate to the World that these horrible, deadly Wars, and violent Conflicts must end.” Trump also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, stating, “Millions are dying, and Kamala Harris is in no way capable of stopping it.”
Netanyahu’s request to meet with Trump comes as the former president has been vocal in his criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In 2018, the Trump administration relocated the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. During his presidency, Trump also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, withdrew the U.S. from the U.N. Human Rights Council, and brokered the Abraham Accords, a historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that normalized relations and created bilateral agreements in various areas of mutual benefit.
Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Wednesday was invited by the bipartisan leaders of both the House and the Senate back in May. However, Vice President Kamala Harris has declined to preside over the address due to a pre-scheduled event in Indiana. Harris, who is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, will not be attending the address. Her absence has been met with criticism, particularly from Republicans who have accused her of snubbing Netanyahu. In addition, Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has announced his intention to boycott the address altogether. The political maneuvering surrounding Netanyahu’s visit highlights the complexities of the situation in the region and the ongoing partisan tensions in Washington.
