Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited former United States President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for talks aimed at easing tensions between the two leaders. Netanyahu also met with current President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during his weeklong US visit, which was met with protests and warnings from rights groups about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
During the meeting with Trump, Netanyahu announced that Israel would send a negotiating team to discuss a proposal for a Gaza ceasefire in Rome. Netanyahu’s trip to the US was seen as an effort to mend ties with Trump before the upcoming presidential election, following a strained relationship due to Trump’s refusal to accept Biden’s victory.
Trump, known for his transactional approach to US-Israel relations, had previously praised Netanyahu but criticized him after accepting Biden’s win. Netanyahu, in turn, made efforts to charm Trump, highlighting his achievements during Trump’s presidency, such as the Abraham Accords and the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem.
During a meeting with Biden, the US president pressed Netanyahu on a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, where thousands have been killed and injured in Israel’s war. The Biden administration has faced criticism for its support of Israel despite concerns of war crimes being committed with US weapons.
Netanyahu also met with Vice President Harris, who acknowledged the suffering in Gaza but continued to pledge support for Israel. Harris’s comments, which emphasized the civilian toll of the war, were met with criticism from Netanyahu’s far-right allies in Israel. The meetings highlighted the challenges of balancing support for Israel with concerns about humanitarian crises in Gaza.
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