Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, focusing on Washington’s surprise tariffs on Israel and rising tensions with Iran. Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to meet Trump in Washington since the president’s “Liberation Day” announcement, which imposed wide-reaching tariffs on several countries, including Israel.
Arriving directly from Hungary, Netanyahu’s main goal is to convince Trump to reverse or reduce the 17 percent tariff on Israeli imports, which is scheduled to take effect soon. Prior to leaving Budapest, Netanyahu indicated that his discussions would cover various issues, including “the tariff regime that has also been imposed on Israel.”
He added, “I’m the first international leader, the first foreign leader who will meet with President Trump on a matter so crucial to Israel’s economy.” He went on to say, “I believe this reflects the special personal relationship and the unique bond between the United States and Israel, which is so vital at this time.”
Analysts suggested Netanyahu would push for an exemption from the tariffs, noting the urgency of the visit. Jonathan Rynhold, head of political studies at Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv, commented, “The urgency (of the visit) makes sense in terms of stopping it before it gets institutionalized.” Rynhold further explained that such an exemption would benefit not only Israel but also please Republican voters, who care about Israel but are reluctant to confront Trump on the issue.
In an effort to avoid the new tariff, Israel had already taken action the day before Trump’s announcement, lifting remaining duties on the small portion of American goods still affected by them. However, Trump moved forward with the policy, citing the US’s significant trade deficit with Israel, a major recipient of US military aid.
Netanyahu’s US visit also serves as a way to show Trump that Israel is aligned with him. Yannay Spitzer, an economics professor at Hebrew University, noted, “I would not be surprised if there is an announcement of some concession for Israel… and this will be an example for other countries.”
In addition to discussing tariffs, Netanyahu plans to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Israeli hostages held in Palestinian territory, and the growing threat from Iran. Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza on March 18, ending a ceasefire with Hamas that had lasted nearly two months. The truce, brokered by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, collapsed, with Israel’s military actions resulting in the deaths of over 1,330 people in Gaza.
At present, 58 hostages are still held by Palestinian terrorists, including 34 whom the Israeli military believes are already dead. On the issue of Iran, Trump has urged for “direct talks” to forge a new agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the idea of direct negotiations as “meaningless.”
Speculation has grown that Israel, possibly with US support, could target Iranian facilities if a deal with Tehran fails to materialize.
