Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited former US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, in an effort to mend ties before the upcoming election. The meeting followed talks with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, with Netanyahu promising to dispatch a negotiating team to discuss a Gaza ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu highlighted Trump’s past actions, including the Abraham Accords and recognizing Israeli claims in the Golan Heights.
During his visit to the US, Netanyahu faced protests and backlash over Israel’s war on Gaza, with rights groups warning of war crimes. Biden pressed Netanyahu on a ceasefire proposal, as Palestinian casualties continued to rise. Amnesty International warned that the US could be complicit in war crimes if Israel used weapons of US origin.
Netanyahu also met with Harris, who is set to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. Harris emphasized the need to address the civilian toll of the war and called for a ceasefire, signaling a shift from previous US messages of support for Israel. Netanyahu’s far-right allies in Israel rejected calls for a cessation of hostilities, highlighting the complex political dynamics at play.
Overall, Netanyahu’s visit to the US was marked by attempts to repair relations with Trump, navigate tensions with Biden’s administration, and address concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The meetings with both Trump and Biden, as well as Harris, underscored the challenges and complexities of Israel’s relations with the US amid regional conflicts.
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