Newsletters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to gather his Security Cabinet on Sunday before leaving for Washington, where he is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump later this week.
The Cabinet meeting is due to begin at 1 p.m. local time (1000 GMT), according to Israeli media. It comes as reports emerge that Trump has instructed U.S. officials not to carry out additional military strikes against Iran for now.
Netanyahu is expected to depart for Washington on Monday at Trump's invitation before meeting the U.S. president at the White House on Tuesday, according to a statement from his office.
During the visit, he is also scheduled to attend the funeral of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Israel's strongest allies in Congress, whose funeral service at Washington National Cathedral is expected to bring together senior U.S. officials and foreign leaders.
The trip was originally expected to take place earlier this month but was postponed after Netanyahu's office announced on July 16 that Graham's funeral "appears to have been postponed until the end of the month."
The visit was rescheduled after funeral arrangements were finalized, with Netanyahu's office confirming the Washington trip and White House meeting.
Netanyahu's visit also comes as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran enters its fifth month, with the two leaders expected to discuss the conflict, ongoing U.S.-Iran diplomacy, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional security.
A New York Times report published on Saturday suggested that Trump has put plans to significantly expand U.S. military operations against Iran on hold after senior advisers raised concerns over dwindling air defense missile stockpiles.
According to the report, military officials warned that another large-scale campaign could sharply reduce supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles and other munitions needed to protect U.S. forces in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The officials also cautioned that further escalation could trigger stronger Iranian retaliation, strain relations with Gulf allies and deepen disruptions to global energy markets and refugee flows, the report noted.
Since the start of the conflict, while Israeli officials have continued to advocate sustained military pressure on Tehran, the Trump administration has increasingly emphasized diplomacy and economic pressure.
Those differences became public this month after Vice President JD Vance accused members of Netanyahu's government of trying to influence U.S. policy to prolong the conflict.
"I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there have been people within the Israeli government who are trying to ... shift us away from that policy because they want to continue the military campaign," Vance previously said.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
