Dermer and Witkoff to join Netanyahu-Trump meetings in Washington
Strategic affairs minister, who leads Israel’s hostage negotiating team, will participate in session with US envoy who has spearheaded talks, alongside president and PM
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in meetings with senior US officials in Washington on Monday, a member of Netanyahu’s entourage told The Times of Israel on Sunday.
Before departing for the US from Hungary on Sunday, Netanyahu said he and President Donald Trump would discuss “the hostages, the completion of the victory in Gaza, and of course the tariff regime that was also imposed on Israel.” Netanyahu did not mention potential discussions on thwarting Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions.
The leaders are also expected to discuss the security situation in Syria, and, in particular, Turkey’s efforts to establish itself in the country, according to Hebrew media reports. The US president, who is expected to visit Saudi Arabia next month, may also raise his goal of Saudi normalization with Israel.
Netanyahu’s trip to Washington — which is expected to last until Tuesday, though Channel 12 reported that it may be extended — was only announced on Saturday, and was reportedly planned following a three-way conversation between Netanyahu, Trump, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Dermer will participate in a wider meeting Monday with Trump and Netanyahu, a senior Israeli official said. Netanyahu was also set to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick soon after arriving in the US capital on Sunday.
The prime minister will meet Trump at the White House at 1 p.m. local time on Monday — 8 p.m. in Israel, during primetime news broadcasts — and the two will give joint statements in the Oval Office.
After the statements, a wide-ranging meeting is expected, in which Witkoff and Dermer are expected to participate, among other aides to the two leaders, according to Channel 12.
Witkoff has spearheaded efforts to reach a hostage-ceasefire deal in Gaza, following the collapse of the previous agreement, which would have required Israel to end the war, and the subsequent return to fighting in the Strip.
Dermer has led the Israeli negotiating team in that effort since mid-February, shortly before the collapse of the deal. Netanyahu appointed the strategic affairs minister to the role after pushing aside Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar — whom Netanyahu is now trying to fire — and IDF hostage point man Nitzan Alon.
After the wide-ranging meeting, Netanyahu and Trump will hold a joint press conference in the East Wing of the White House, according to Channel 12.
During Netanyahu’s last visit to the White House, in February, Trump announced his proposal for the US to “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip, while permanently relocating all of its residents.
The plan has been roundly condemned by Arab states and others, while Israeli leaders have embraced it, though often in a softened form. Trump himself appeared to soften the proposal several weeks ago, when he said the US would not be “expelling any Palestinians.”
The Times of Israel Community.