File photo: US President Donald Trump with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have agreed to meet in the United States in the near future following a phone conversation on Friday, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).During the call, Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and praised the close relationship between the two countries.”The US is what ensures the freedom of the world, and Israel greatly appreciates the tight bond between the nations,” Netanyahu said, according to the PMO statement.The statement added that “Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet soon in the US.” No date or venue for the meeting was announced.The conversation came after the United States and Israel jointly conducted military operations against Iran and amid reports of tensions between the two leaders over efforts to end the conflict.
Meeting comes amid regional diplomacy
The planned meeting also comes as diplomatic efforts over Iran continue. Qatar and Pakistan concluded separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators in Doha on July 1, with “positive progress” reported on issues related to a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson said the parties had agreed to continue discussions, with the next round of talks to be scheduled after the funeral processions of Iran’s former Supreme Leader.
Israel maintains pressure on Hezbollah
The announcement follows Israel’s recent insistence that it will continue military operations against Hezbollah despite the ceasefire framework with Lebanon.Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel said the Iran-backed group continued to pose a direct security threat.”If Hezbollah continues to attack Israel, we will continue to defend our people, our communities and our forces,” Haskel said.She added, “There is nothing more that we want to see than this Iranian terrorist army out of Lebanon… and there is nothing more that the Lebanese government wants to see than this terrorist organisation gone and disarmed.”
Netanyahu calls for end to US aid
Earlier this week, Netanyahu also announced that Israel should begin ending its dependence on US financial assistance.The Israeli prime minister said, “I want to stop American aid. It’s like welfare; I don’t want it.”He argued that Israel’s economy had grown strong enough to finance its own needs, saying, “Our economy is no longer a small economy… we can finance ourselves with this fraction of a per cent of our GDP that we receive from the United States. I want this process to start this year.”
