Overview
- Netanyahu departed for Washington on Monday to meet President Trump and to attend the memorial for Senator Lindsey Graham, travelling privately from Nevatim Air Base without a public press detail.
- He has made Iran the primary agenda item and on Sunday told U.S. and Israeli media that the conflict must end only if Iran’s regime is toppled or its nuclear program is sufficiently weakened.
- Netanyahu warned that any Iranian attack on Israel, direct or via proxies, would draw a “very, very forceful” Israeli response and told security ministers he will reject U.S. pressure to pull forces from Lebanon, Syria or Gaza.
- In the days before the trip Israel took measures meant to show cooperation with the United States, including troop redeployments in southern Lebanon and acceptance of a proposed multinational force in Gaza, while U.S. strikes briefly paused and Iran said it would suspend attacks while the pause holds.
- The visit comes with heavy domestic and diplomatic stakes: Netanyahu is trailing in polls ahead of an October election, he has clashed with the Trump team over Iran strategy, and he has publicly rejected International Criminal Court arrest warrants against him.