Explained: What would be top on agenda as Trump prepares to meet Netanyahu in Florida?
The US-backed Gaza ceasefire has worked till now, but as is often the case in the region, the continuation of such truces is often fragile. This would be a prime concern of discussion as Trump meets Netanyahu in Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, but post-war Gaza recovery and Netanyahu's ongoing corruption case might also be on the table.
New Delhi: After Sunday’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump is all set to welcome his next guest to the US, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. An important and much-awaited meeting, it comes as Washington looks to build on the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that it backed, and other matters important to the region, for both Israel and the US.
Trump would be welcoming Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and is likely to take the ceasefire plan to the next stage, while also discussing other matters of importance like Israel’s current relation with Iran, post-war plan for Gaza and Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption case.
An important meeting
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu that is expected to take place on Monday is hugely significant and one that is optimistic in terms of the situation of the Gaza war. It comes at a time when the US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has mostly held. What did not look probable half a year ago, was made successful, and Trump would like to further build on this step.
While both Hamas and Israel have since the ceasefire accused one another violations of the ceasefire, it has till now remained in place. This is not easy in the fickle region that is the Middle East, and the continuation of peace depends heavily on the US assuaging Israel, and Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu at this crucial moment is thus extremely important in this regard.
The meeting between the two comes after recent talks between US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner, that were held in Florida with officials from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, which have been mediating the ceasefire. Monday’s talks between Trump and Netanyahu would likely be taking these discussions forward.
Agendas galore
The principal point of agenda that is likely to be looked at is the progress of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas, the first phase of which began in October. Now the agenda is to take it to the second phase, and Trump would have to play a huge part in making this happen.
This is especially true as there are many aspects of the second phase that Netanyahu, and more importantly, many in his coalition government do not support. Trump would here have to use his persuasive skills and diplomatic leverage to bring Netanyahu in agreement to take the second phase of the ceasefire plan forward.
Apart from this, the issue of Iran may also be on the table. Trump continues to insist that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were "completely and fully obliterated” following US strikes on its nuclear sites in June. Israel, who views Iran as an existential threat may need more persuasive arguments and reassurances.
Another important point is the post-war plan for Gaza. This firstly includes who would be governing Gaza. Understanding on this would be important between the US and Israel first, the makeup of the ensuing authority and its allegiances would be hard to be agreed on by all sides concerned. The rebuilding of the future demilitarized Gaza would be another contentious issue.
Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are pressing for a negotiated deal on disarming Hamas, and on an additional Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before moving to next elements of the plan. The concerns of these actors too are important, and the US, and Israel, would have to look at such outside factors as well before they go forward with enforcing their own writ in the peace process, another likely point of discussion between Trump and Netanyahu during their pivotal and timely meeting.