From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Before departing for US, Netanyahu says meeting with Trump may further redraw Mideast
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Before boarding the Wing of Zion plane for his flight to Washington, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his meetings in the US capital “will deal with important, critical issues facing Israel and the region — victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages, and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components, an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East and the entire world.”
He says in English that the fact that he is the first foreign leader to meet US President Donald Trump in the White House since the latter’s inauguration is “a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance. It’s also a testimony to the strength of our personal friendship.”
Netanyahu argues that “the decisions we’ve made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East. Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further, and for the better.
“I believe that we can strengthen security, broaden the circle of peace, and achieve a remarkable era of peace through strength.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reporters at Ben Gurion Airport ahead of a trip to the United States, February 2, 2025. (Itay Beit-On/GPO)
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