Netanyahu Meets Trump, Expresses Cautious Optimism on Gaza Ceasefire

### Netanyahu and Trump Reunite to Strengthen Ties Amid Gaza Conflict

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. This marked their first face-to-face meeting in nearly four years, aimed at mending their relationship and discussing progress towards a cease-fire in Gaza.

Netanyahu expressed cautious optimism about achieving a U.S.-mediated cease-fire and the release of hostages. He told reporters he was “eager” to reach an agreement, despite accusations at home of resisting a deal to prevent the potential collapse of his far-right government.

During Trump’s presidency, he went to great lengths to support Netanyahu’s priorities, but their relationship soured after Netanyahu quickly congratulated Joe Biden on his 2020 election victory, which Trump continues to contest.

Both leaders now see the value in rekindling their alliance. For Trump, this meeting serves to bolster his image as a statesman and reinforce Republican loyalty to Israel. For Netanyahu, it is crucial to restore ties with Trump, who might become president again, thus ensuring continued U.S. support for Israel.

Trump warmly welcomed Netanyahu, stating, “We’ve always had a great relationship,” and dismissed any notion of past tensions. The meeting was intended to showcase both leaders as strong, influential figures capable of achieving significant outcomes on the global stage.

Netanyahu’s U.S. visit included a speech to Congress defending Israel’s actions in Gaza, where more than 39,000 Palestinians have died, and meetings with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden and Harris urged Netanyahu to expedite a cease-fire and hostage release.

Trump’s campaign announced his commitment to bringing peace to the Middle East and combating antisemitism on college campuses if elected. Netanyahu presented Trump with a photo of a child held hostage by Hamas, to which Trump responded, “We’ll get it taken care of.”

In a speech to young Christian conservatives, Trump questioned how any Jewish person or Israel supporter could vote for Democrats, criticizing Harris for missing Netanyahu’s speech and accusing her of disliking Jewish people and Israel, despite her long-standing marriage to a Jewish man.

The meeting highlighted Trump’s attempts to position himself as a key ally to Israel amidst growing American divisions over support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Netanyahu, meanwhile, sees the potential return of Trump to the presidency as vital for securing favorable terms in a Gaza cease-fire, hostage release, and normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu has long aligned with the Republican Party, and now must repair ties with Trump, described by former U.S. diplomat Aaron David Miller as an “irascible, angry president.”

Their last meeting was at a September 2020 White House ceremony for a diplomatic accord where the UAE and Bahrain agreed to normalize relations with Israel, a significant step towards easing regional tensions.

Since their fallout, Trump has accused Netanyahu of disloyalty and criticized his preparedness for the October 7 Hamas attacks that escalated the Gaza conflict. Despite this, Netanyahu praised Trump in Congress and again at Mar-a-Lago for his historic contributions to Israel, including recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights and declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Trump acknowledged Netanyahu’s praise but continued to press for decisive action in Gaza, urging Israel to “finish the job” against Hamas, without detailing specific strategies.