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Monday, January 27, 2025
US officials say planning for Netanyahu-Trump meet could be finalized during Witkoff visit
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US officials confirm that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington as early as next week, and say that details could be be arranged when Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, travels to Israel this week for talks.
Should the trip come together in that timeframe, Netanyahu could be the first foreign leader to meet with Trump at the White House since his inauguration last week, according to two US officials familiar with preliminary planning for the trip.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the planning remains tentative.
The White House had no immediate comment on the plans and Netanyahu’s spokesman, Omer Dostri, posted on X that the Israeli leader had not yet received an official invitation to the White House.
Witkoff told an audience at the ceremonial opening of a New York City synagogue on Sunday that he would be traveling to Israel on Wednesday to keep focusing on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
In Israel, sources say the visit is also dependent on Netanyahu’s health. He is recovering from surgery to remove his prostate.
The Times of Israel Community.