WASHINGTON: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump announced on Tuesday, signaling an attempt to strengthen their relationship.
“Looking forward to welcoming Bibi Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida,” the former U.S. president said in a post on Truth Social, using Netanyahu’s nickname.
This meeting will be their first since the end of Trump’s presidency. During his term, the two leaders developed close ties. The meeting comes amid strained relations between Netanyahu and Democratic President Joe Biden over Israel’s conflict with Hamas militants in Gaza.
Late on Tuesday, Trump shared a letter from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, written a day after Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania. Abbas wished Trump “strength and safety” in the letter. In the same post, Trump expressed his eagerness to meet Netanyahu and work toward peace in the Middle East.
Netanyahu had upset Trump by congratulating Biden on his victory in the 2020 election. Trump has falsely claimed the election was stolen from him through voter fraud.
Netanyahu requested the in-person meeting with Trump during his visit to Washington this week, according to Politico. The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a speech on Wednesday, Netanyahu will seek renewed support from Congress for Israel’s military operations in Gaza. He will also meet with both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently entered the 2024 presidential race after Biden withdrew.
Netanyahu seems to be weighing his options for the upcoming U.S. election. Polls indicate a tight race, with most analysts believing that a second Trump administration would allow Netanyahu more freedom in handling the Gaza conflict.
Netanyahu and Trump were largely aligned ideologically and on policy during Trump’s 2017-2021 term. During that time, the U.S. moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a decision that pleased Israelis and angered Palestinians.
Trump has criticized Netanyahu for the security failures surrounding the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and has urged Israel to quickly secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas and to conclude the war in Gaza.
In his social media post, Trump praised Netanyahu’s role in the Abraham Accords, the landmark U.S.-brokered agreements that normalized relations between Israel and both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates during Trump’s presidency.
“During my first term, we had Peace and Stability in the Region, even signing the historic Abraham Accords – And we will have it again,” Trump said on Truth Social.
He added that Harris, as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, was “in no way capable of stopping” world conflicts.
