Trump: “Bibi Wants Peace” Ahead of Netanyahu’s White House Visit.
Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s White House visit on Monday, US President Donald Trump claimed that negotiations over his plan to end the war in Gaza are “at their final stages.” In an interview with Axios, Trump said he has engaged with Netanyahu, Arab nations, and Hamas to push for a wider peace initiative in the Middle East.
“Everybody has come together to get a deal, but we still have to get it done… The Arab countries were fantastic to work with on this. Hamas is coming with them. They have great respect for the Arab world… The Arab world wants peace, Israel wants peace, and Bibi wants peace,” Trump said.
Trump added that the plan, if implemented, could resume a broader push for regional peace. “If we get this done, it will be a great day for Israel and for the Middle East. It will be the first chance for real peace in the Middle East. But we have to get it done first,” he said.
Mixed Signals from Netanyahu
Despite Trump’s optimism, Netanyahu has shown little sign of compromise. In a defiant UN address on Friday, he vowed to “finish the job” against Hamas and reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state. The Israeli premier also continues the military offensive in Gaza City, displacing hundreds of thousands.
This will be Netanyahu’s fourth visit to the White House since Trump returned to power in January. While traditionally an ally of the Israeli leader, Trump has recently expressed frustration, warning against West Bank annexation and opposing Israel’s strikes on Hamas targets in Qatar.
According to analysts, the outcome of the meeting will hinge on how much pressure Trump is willing to exert to persuade Netanyahu to accept a deal that neither Israel nor Hamas has fully endorsed.
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