Israeli Prime Minister to Meet Trump

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, will leave his country for Washington on Monday to meet with the President of the United States. Iran is expected to be one of the key topics discussed between the two leaders. This upcoming meeting between Netanyahu and Trump will be their first since Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Netanyahu, whose government experienced unprecedented tensions with Washington during Barack Obama's presidency, is expected to discuss several key issues with the new American president, with Iran being one of the most significant. Netanyahu was the most prominent foreign opponent and critic of the nuclear agreement between Iran, the U.S., and five other world powers. Following Trump's inauguration and Iran's missile testing, Netanyahu called for a 'global alliance against Iran' and stated that 'cooperation with other countries in the fight against Iran' would be a topic of his discussions in upcoming meetings with world leaders. Donald Trump is also known for being a critic of the nuclear agreement and a staunch opponent of the actions and behavior of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His National Security Advisor stated after the missile test that Washington is now 'officially warning' Tehran. Iran does not recognize Israel and its military and political officials have repeatedly threatened the country. Iran's relations with some Arab countries in the region have also faced new crises, leading to a severance or minimization of ties. On the other hand, Israeli officials, including the country's Minister of Transportation, have stated that with Tehran's solidifying presence in Syria, Iran is now seeking to create a corridor that connects it from Iraq and Syria to Lebanon, which could pose a security threat to Israel. Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Defense Minister, previously stated that the Netanyahu-Trump meeting should have a primary focus: 'Iran is the biggest threat to Israel. Iran, Iran, and Iran.' According to a source from the Israeli government who was not named, 'Netanyahu intends to explain to the U.S. President that the United States must prevent Iran's permanent military presence in Syria, which would be considered a strategic threat to Israel.' Reports indicate that Israel's concerns are not limited to Iran's direct presence but also include groups supported by Iran, such as Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz states that Netanyahu's expectations from the Trump administration should be 'placed within a realistic framework,' and the Jerusalem Post mentions that there is no guarantee that the leaders of the two countries will reach a decisive agreement on everything. The Israeli Prime Minister will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday and with the U.S. President at the White House on Wednesday. Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Defense Minister, will also meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis on Friday.