Meetings of Utmost Importance

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, looking to discuss major issues relating to the conflict with Israel’s many enemies, especially Iran.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter said,

“The prime minister will be the first foreign leader to visit the White House in President Trump’s second term,
and his visit will spur bilateral efforts to promote security and prosperity in the US, Israel and the Middle East.”

These issues are of the utmost importance because the conflict has been going on for more than 75 years, and Israel’s recent successes against Hamas and Hezbollah have created an opportunity for major change.

The pressures upon the two leaders are enormous. On the one hand, Qatar expects Donald Trump to continue pressing for Israel and Hamas to maintain the current ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza.

Qatar’s leaders are looking for it to move into phase two, the talks for which are due to start this week. Many others also want this, especially the families and friends of the remaining hostages.

But there are opposing pressures too. Some Israelis are greatly upset at the sight of Hamas terrorists carrying IDF firearms and threatening to renew the terrorist group’s attacks on Israeli civilians. One organisation of Israeli reservists has said:

“For the past 16 months, we’ve fought on all fronts, lost dear friends,
and seen many others wounded – all to prevent the next October 7th.
Unfortunately, we see that Hamas is still alive and kicking,
and Israel remains trapped in the same vicious cycle of kidnappings,
prisoner releases, and more kidnappings.”

These reservists and many other Israelis are keen to see the war continue so as to complete the removal of Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

Here is an interview with Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, about the importance of the meetings. He is looking for this to be the start of a new, positive, combined approach to pushing back against those who are enemies of both Israel and the USA.