Barack Ravid at Axios reports on X that, according to US and Israeli sources Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is "planning to meet" US President Donald Trump next week at the White House. If the meeting goes ahead, Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to meet Trump at the White House.
- Comes after Trump disrupted diplomacy in the Middle East by suggesting that Jordan and Egypt should accept over a million refugees from Gaza. The issue is a red line for many Arab countries, which could have potentially harmful consequences for fragile ceasefire agreements in Lebanon and Gaza. Both ceasefires are currently holding, despite accusations of violations from all parties.
- Trump said, referring to Gaza: “We just clean out that whole thing. I don’t know, something has to happen, but it’s literally a demolition site right now... so I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing in a different location where I think they could maybe live in peace for a change.”
- CNN notes: “It wasn’t clear yet whether this represented a massive U.S. policy shift or if Trump was just shooting from the hip, but one Israeli analyst indicated that it might be the former, in coordination with Israel.”
- The Wall Street Journal: “[Trump’s] statement could mark a dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Palestinians under presidents of both parties. No recent White House has suggested the “long-term” departure of Palestinians from Gaza...”