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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington DC on Sunday night ahead of a series of hastily arranged meetings with US President Donald Trump and senior US officials over the next two days, The Times of Israel reports.
The meetings will largely focus on the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and the hostages, of whom 59 are still in captivity, as well as Trump’s new tariff policy, under which Israeli goods face a 17 percent US tariff.
The Israeli premier departed for Washington from Budapest on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the trip was announced.
Upon his arrival in Washington with his wife, Sara Netanyahu, the premier headed from the airport to Blair House in a convoy, where he met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to The Times of Israel.
"I hope that I will be able to help on this issue. That is the intention," Netanyahu said of the tariffs ahead of the visit, according to Reuters. "I am the first international leader, the first foreign leader, who will meet with President Trump on the issue, which is so important to the Israeli economy.
"There is a long line of leaders who want to do this regarding their economies. I think that it reflects the special personal link, as well as the special ties between the U.S. and Israel, which is so vital at this time."
Netanyahu’s office has also said that “Israel-Turkey relations, the Iranian threat and confronting the International Criminal Court” will be on the agenda.
