Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump on December 29 to discuss Middle East peace and the Gaza ceasefire plan.
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump in the United States on December 29.
A spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office confirmed the meeting would take place on Monday, December 29.
“The meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu will take place Monday, December 29,” spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said.
She did not provide details on the location or duration of the visit.
Israeli media reported Netanyahu and Trump were expected to meet twice during an eight-day US visit by the Israeli leader.
Channel 12 said Netanyahu would visit Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Netanyahu said on Sunday he would meet Trump later in December to discuss “opportunities for peace” in the Middle East.
His office said he was invited to the White House during a phone call with the president.
Netanyahu also said he expected the second phase of the US-sponsored Gaza truce plan to begin soon.
“We very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult,” he said.
The first phase of the truce has been in effect since October 10, halting the war that began after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
It has seen militants release 47 out of 48 hostages held in Gaza, including the last 20 living captives.
The second stage concerns disarming Hamas, further Israeli withdrawal, and deploying an international stabilisation force.
The US is Israel’s primary military and diplomatic supporter, but tensions have emerged between the allies.
These include the issue of annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Several members of Netanyahu’s government have called for the territory to be annexed.
Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have voiced firm opposition to such a move.
