Netanyahu Pushes for Urgent Meeting with Trump Amid Trust Issues and Iran Negotiations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office is striving to arrange a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump this week, though Trump's attendance at the NATO summit in Turkey makes the timing uncertain. Officials are preparing for the meeting to take place at the White House immediately after the summit or possibly be postponed until next week. This would mark the eighth meeting between Netanyahu and Trump since the latter took office.

The urgency stems from Netanyahu's desire to restore trust with Trump, which has deteriorated since their February meeting where Netanyahu persuaded Trump to initiate a military operation against Iran, known as "Operation Epic Fury." U.S. officials reportedly viewed Netanyahu's plans to topple the Iranian regime as unrealistic, and there is concern Trump may blame Netanyahu for the operation's failure. Israeli sources argue their plans involved a longer timeline and depended on actions Trump did not implement, such as leveraging the Kurdish opposition.

Another key reason for the meeting is to share Israeli intelligence ahead of renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations on a permanent agreement, which have been delayed due to the funeral ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel aims to ensure the U.S. demands not only uranium enrichment reduction but also the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, opposing any Iranian enrichment rights. Netanyahu also plans to emphasize the inclusion of ballistic missile threats and Iranian proxy support in the agreement.

Additional topics Netanyahu intends to discuss include resisting U.S. pressure to withdraw from Lebanon's security zone, preventing reconstruction in Gaza without Hamas disarmament, advancing normalization agreements with Arab states, and transitioning from U.S. military aid to security cooperation based on Israeli technological assets. Netanyahu is expected to voice strong opposition to U.S. plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, especially after Ankara's recent hostile remarks about Israel.

Trump has indicated he may offer Turkey military sales, signaling a potential diplomatic challenge for Netanyahu. Despite risks of public embarrassment, Netanyahu is betting on securing Trump's backing ahead of Israel's upcoming elections. The White House continues to monitor Israeli political polls closely and may reconsider support if Netanyahu appears unlikely to win. Israeli officials acknowledge the low probability of a final U.S.-Iran deal and anticipate renewed military options against Iran by November, underscoring the need for close U.S.-Israeli coordination.

Netanyahu faces significant challenges rebuilding trust with Trump, as some of Trump's closest advisors have grown skeptical of Netanyahu's judgment since February. Trump recently told Axios that Netanyahu requested a White House meeting, which could occur after the NATO summit, and affirmed their strong relationship by saying, "Netanyahu knows who the boss is," referring to himself. Netanyahu's office confirmed a recent phone call with Trump to congratulate him on the U.S. 250th Independence Day.

Overall, the meeting aims to realign U.S.-Israeli positions on Iran, regional security, and bilateral cooperation amid complex political dynamics and upcoming Israeli elections.