High Stakes in Washington: Trump and Netanyahu's Meeting on Gaza Ceasefire and Regional Stability
The highly anticipated meeting on Tuesday in Washington between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reshaping the negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. Initially, talks between Israel and Hamas were scheduled to commence on Monday, but Israeli authorities dashed expectations when they announced that their delegation would not travel to Doha, Qatar. This announcement raised questions about potential changes to the agreement, which is structured in three phases, each lasting a month and a half.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump stirred controversy among Arab leaders with his remarks regarding Israel, calling it a "small country" and suggesting that Palestinians should leave Gaza to resettle elsewhere. His comments, made in the Oval Office, appeared to oversimplify the complexities of the region, leaving many concerned about the ramifications of such assertions. Trump emphasized the contrast in land size, likening Israel to the top of a pen, further fueling tensions.
The Trump administration is reportedly set to halt funding for the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, a move that has garnered criticism from multiple fronts.
As Netanyahu prepares for his visit, which marks the first by a foreign leader since Trump’s inauguration, discussions are poised to cover both immediate and longer-term issues shaping the Middle East. Among the topics are the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, an initiative stymied by the recent outbreak of war following Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023. Additionally, the meeting will address Trump’s controversial proposal to deport 1.5 million Gazans, with Egypt and Jordan as potential resettlement nations. Strategies to counter Iran's nuclear ambitions and its support for extremist groups in the region will also be on the agenda.
While both leaders will undoubtedly present a united front in a press conference following the talks, Netanyahu is expected to engage in further discussions with U.S. officials, including National Security Advisor Mike Walz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Netanyahu’s arrival in Washington has been met with a firm commitment by Israeli officials to strengthen the Israel-U.S. alliance. He underscored the importance of achieving victory over Hamas, securing the release of hostages, and addressing the Iranian threat. However, doubts over the implementation of the next phase of the ceasefire exist: Netanyahu faces pressure from hardline cabinet members who advocate for resuming military operations.
In Israel, President Isaac Herzog has called for completing all stages of the ceasefire agreement. Opposition leader Yair Lapid assured Netanyahu of support if his coalition loses backing from right-wing members, highlighting the complexity of maintaining political unity amidst these negotiations.
Despite skepticism surrounding Netanyahu’s commitment to the ceasefire, implications from the Trump administration could significantly influence the outcome. Trump's active role in negotiations is seen as integral to facilitating a long-cherished goal: normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, viewed as a key achievement of the Abraham Accords initiated during his first term.
On the other hand, Trump's proposal to transfer Gazans has sparked outrage across the Arab world, prompting swift rejection from regional governments. A joint statement warns that any efforts to uproot Palestinians could threaten regional stability and peace prospects. King Abdullah II of Jordan, whose country hosts many Palestinian refugees, plans to meet with Trump soon, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these sensitive issues.
As the world watches, the outcomes of Tuesday's meeting could have far-reaching effects on both Israeli-Palestinian relations and broader regional dynamics, with the stakes higher than ever amid ongoing tensions.
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