Former President Donald Trump is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, marking their first meeting since Trump left office over three years ago. The meeting, requested by Netanyahu, will take place at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. This meeting comes after Netanyahu's recent address to Congress and discussions with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House.
Trump, who has often touted himself as the most pro-Israel president in modern history, had a close relationship with Netanyahu during his presidency. However, their relationship soured in recent years, with Trump criticizing Netanyahu's handling of the conflict with Hamas.
Despite their strained relationship, Trump enacted several policies beneficial to Israel during his presidency, such as moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and supporting the normalization of relations between Israel and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa through the Abraham Accords.
Trump's willingness to meet with Netanyahu despite their differences signals a potential reset in their relationship and could have implications for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Trump has expressed a desire for a swift end to the conflict, emphasizing the importance of public relations in the region.
Arab Americans and Jewish supporters of Trump will be closely watching the meeting, hoping for progress towards peace in the Middle East. Trump's engagement with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the meeting has been seen as an attempt to strike a balance in his approach.
Overall, the meeting between Trump and Netanyahu holds significance for both domestic and international audiences, with potential implications for future US foreign policy in the region.
