Netanyahu First Foreign Leader To Be Invited By Trump In Second Term, Meeting On February 4

Last Updated:January 29, 2025, 00:21 IST

The Trump-Netanyahu meeting comes after the US president repeatedly claimed credit for sealing an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which came after months of fruitless negotiations

During his first term, US President Donald Trump (R) frequently claimed that Israel "never had a better friend in the White House", a sentiment often echoed by PM Benjamin Netanyahu (L). (Image: AFP/File)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited by US President Donald Trump to a meeting at the White House on February 4.

Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House during Trump’s second term, said the Israeli premier’s office on Tuesday. The meeting comes after the US president repeatedly claimed credit for sealing an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which came after months of fruitless negotiations.

After the ceasefire took effect, he touted a plan to “clean out" the Gaza Strip, calling for Palestinians to relocate to neighbouring countries such as Egypt or Jordan. The idea has faced strong backlash from Egypt and Jordan as well as from European governments.

During his first term, Trump frequently claimed that Israel “never had a better friend in the White House", a sentiment often echoed by Netanyahu. However, the relationship between the two leaders soured briefly after the Israeli leader congratulated Joe Biden on his 2020 election victory.

Trump, who falsely claimed to have won the 2020 election, accused Netanyahu of disloyalty, as per multiple media reports at the time. Nonetheless, soon after taking office for his second term, he reportedly approved a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, which the Biden administration had previously halted. Netanyahu praised Trump for providing Israel with the “tools" to defend itself.

Jerusalem, Israel

News world Netanyahu First Foreign Leader To Be Invited By Trump In Second Term, Meeting On February 4