Israeli media outlets are voicing strong disappointment over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to the White House, labelling it one of his worst encounters with U.S. President Donald Trump. The unexpectedly brief and unproductive trip has raised eyebrows both in Tel Aviv and Washington.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster, Netanyahu’s Washington trip concluded abruptly and under suspicious circumstances, delivering no meaningful progress on trade issues or diplomatic fronts. The quick departure left many questioning what truly happened behind closed doors.
News site Walla went further, calling it “perhaps the worst meeting between Netanyahu and Trump to date,” highlighting the Israeli leader’s diminished stature in the Oval Office. Meanwhile, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu returned to Israel “empty-handed,” his hasty visit yielding little to no results.
While the meeting was initially framed as an effort to resolve the U.S. tariffs imposed on Israeli products, Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that the real motive was far more sensitive: ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. Trump reportedly sought to brief Netanyahu personally on the talks to avoid surprises and—crucially—to ensure that Israel would not sabotage them, possibly through a preemptive strike.
Despite Netanyahu’s agenda, the meeting did not advance Israel’s efforts to secure the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza, nor did it offer any new commitments from the U.S. on the matter.
One of the more startling moments came when President Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing him as a friend and expressing admiration for his leadership in Syria—remarks that likely unsettled Israeli officials. Trump suggested that if Israel had issues with Turkey, it should resolve them “rationally.”
“I have a great relationship with Erdoğan. I like him, and he likes me. If you (Netanyahu) have problems with him, solve them. Israel needs to be rational,” Trump said.
The American president also voiced a desire to see an end to the war in Gaza, reiterating that efforts were underway to secure the release of captives held by Hamas. However, he acknowledged that a resolution would take time.
When asked if he would fulfill his campaign promise to end the war in Gaza, Trump responded:
“I’d like to see the war stop. I think it will stop eventually — and not in the very distant future.”
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