US Official Hegseth Reportedly Met Netanyahu in Secret Israel Visit
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
US official Hegseth reportedly visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Axios. The visit occurred shortly after President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu for upcoming elections. Opinion polls indicate Netanyahu's coalition might lose its majority, while opposition parties could struggle to form a government. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, however, stated he would not interfere in Israeli elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- US official Hegseth reportedly met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel.
- The meeting was reported by Axios, though Reuters could not independently verify it.
- The visit followed President Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu for upcoming Israeli elections.
- Opinion polls suggest Netanyahu's coalition may lose its majority in the elections.
- Vice President J.D. Vance stated he would not intervene in Israeli elections.
US official Hegseth reportedly made an unannounced visit to Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Axios reported. Reuters was unable to independently verify the meeting. Hegseth stated on social media that he visited U.S. military personnel under the responsibility of U.S. Central Command, which covers the Middle East, Northeast Africa, and parts of Asia. The Pentagon declined to comment on the reports, and the Israeli Embassy in Washington had not responded to requests for comment.
The news of Hegseth's visit comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Netanyahu for the upcoming Knesset elections. This endorsement precedes an Israeli election that is the first since the October 7, 2023, attacks and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, which have had wide regional repercussions.
According to the report, opinion polls suggest that Netanyahu's national religious coalition may lose its ruling majority. However, opposition forces might also face difficulties in forming a new government.
In contrast, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance refrained from endorsing Netanyahu. In a digital platform interview on Monday, Vance stated he does not interfere in Israeli elections, focusing instead on supporting American candidates, particularly in midterm elections. He clarified that while not against endorsing Netanyahu, he would not do so, emphasizing his non-intervention in Israeli elections. This stance follows his prior trip to Budapest where he publicly supported Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during Hungary's elections earlier this year.
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