By Gloria Ogbonna
U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested a meeting at the White House, with the visit expected to take place after Trump returns from next week’s NATO summit. The planned meeting comes at a time when the two longtime allies have found themselves at odds over several key Middle East issues, including Iran, Lebanon, and Israel’s ongoing military operations.
Speaking during a brief phone interview with Axios global affairs correspondent Barak Ravid on Saturday, Trump said he maintains a strong relationship with Netanyahu but made it clear that he believes he is the dominant figure in their partnership.
“We get along very good,” Trump said. “[Netanyahu] knows who the boss is,” referring to himself.
Netanyahu’s office later confirmed that the two leaders spoke by phone on Friday as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Independence Day. During the conversation, the Israeli leader praised the close alliance between Israel and the United States and emphasized Washington’s role in promoting global freedom.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister expressed appreciation for the longstanding relationship between the two nations, describing the United States as “a guarantor of global freedom.” Both leaders agreed to arrange an in-person meeting in the United States in the near future.
Trump told Axios that it was Netanyahu who initiated the request for the White House meeting. He suggested the talks could take place after he returns from the NATO summit in Turkey, scheduled for July 7–8, although an Israeli official cautioned that the president’s travel commitments could delay the meeting until the following week.
If the meeting goes ahead, it will mark the first face-to-face discussion between Trump and Netanyahu since their White House meeting in February. During those talks, Netanyahu reportedly presented plans for a coordinated military strategy concerning Iran, an issue that has remained at the center of U.S.-Israel relations.
The timing of the proposed visit is also politically significant for Netanyahu, who is preparing for Israel’s upcoming October elections while facing increasing political pressure at home and trailing in several public opinion polls.
The anticipated meeting follows reports of growing frustration with Netanyahu among some of Trump’s closest advisers after their February discussions. According to a U.S. official quoted by Axios, several members of Trump’s inner circle believe the Israeli prime minister has made a series of strategic miscalculations.
“Many of Trump’s closest advisers think that Bibi was wrong about everything,” the official reportedly said, using Netanyahu’s widely known nickname.
Although Trump and Netanyahu have long maintained a close political relationship, recent events have exposed notable policy differences, particularly regarding Iran and the escalating conflict involving Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Following Israeli airstrikes on Beirut in response to Hezbollah attacks and Iran’s subsequent missile launches against Israel, Trump reportedly urged Netanyahu to avoid retaliating against Iran in a way that could further inflame regional tensions.
Multiple U.S. and Israeli media reports claimed that when Israel was preparing a much broader military operation targeting Iran, Trump personally intervened, warning Netanyahu that expanding the conflict could have serious consequences for U.S.-Israel relations.
According to those reports, Trump cautioned Netanyahu by saying, “Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon.” Netanyahu reportedly scaled back the planned operation following the warning.
Days later, Trump publicly criticized another Israeli strike on Beirut, saying it “should not have happened.” Reports also indicated that during a private conversation, Trump sharply questioned Netanyahu’s actions and urged him not to authorize additional attacks.
The two leaders have also disagreed over Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon.
Trump has supported diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and has encouraged Netanyahu to accept a U.S.-brokered framework that would see Israeli forces withdraw from certain areas while the Lebanese army assumes responsibility for security as Hezbollah infrastructure is dismantled.
Israel later destroyed a major Hezbollah tunnel after the agreement was reached. However, Netanyahu has continued to insist that Israeli forces will remain inside their designated security zone until Hezbollah is fully disarmed and no longer poses a threat.
During a visit to Israeli troops on July 1, Netanyahu reaffirmed that position, declaring, “We will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has been eliminated.”
The planned White House meeting is expected to provide both leaders with an opportunity to discuss the future of U.S.-Israel cooperation, regional security, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the conflict with Hezbollah, and ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a broader war in the Middle East.
Despite recent policy disagreements, both Washington and Jerusalem continue to describe their alliance as one of the strongest strategic partnerships in the region, with officials on both sides signaling that dialogue between the two leaders remains essential as tensions across the Middle East continue to evolve.
Source Breitbart
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