Netanyahu: I Will Discuss Countering Iran's Terrorism Axis in Washington

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before departing for the United States, identified one of the main topics of his meetings in Washington as "countering the Iranian government's terrorism axis in all its dimensions, an axis that threatens Israel, the Middle East, and the entire world." According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu, who was heading to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, stated that this meeting would also focus on "important and vital issues including victory over Hamas and efforts to free all hostages." He also noted that he is the first foreign leader to meet with Trump in the White House since the beginning of his new presidential term, considering this a testament to the strength of the Israel-U.S. alliance and his personal friendship with Trump. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel's decisions in the recent war have changed the face of the Middle East and that "with close cooperation with President Trump, we can further shape this change for the better." He added, "We can strengthen our deterrence, expand the circle of peace, and achieve an extraordinary era of peace through power." The Israeli Prime Minister's office announced on Saturday that Netanyahu would depart for the U.S. on Sunday morning to meet with President Trump. The statement added that Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to visit Trump after his inauguration. According to the statement, the leaders of the U.S. and Israel will discuss the situation in Gaza, the hostages, and countering "all components of the Iranian [regime's] axis of evil" along with other regional issues. Netanyahu's trip to the United States comes at a time when his spokesperson stated in an interview with the Jerusalem Post that Israel would attack the Islamic Republic if necessary, without coordination with the U.S. Following the terrorist attack on October 7 last year, Israel has carried out heavy attacks against Hezbollah and Hamas, two major proxy groups of the Islamic Republic, destroying many commanders and thousands of members of these two terrorist groups, as well as their infrastructure in southern Lebanon and Gaza. Israel also targeted the positions of the Iranian regime in direct attacks on April 20 and November 5 of this year, in response to direct attacks by the Iranian regime on Israel on April 14 and October 2 of this year, causing significant damage to the Islamic Republic's missile and nuclear capabilities. The risk of a ceasefire failure; Netanyahu will not send a negotiating team to Qatar. Eyal Zamir will begin work next month as the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army. Netanyahu is heading to the U.S. on Sunday to meet with Trump.