Netanyahu to Meet Trump December 29 to Discuss gaza Future, regional Security
A planned meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump on December 29 will focus on the future of gaza, and also broader regional security concerns, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Monday. The two leaders would discuss “the future steps and phases and the international stabilization force of the ceasefire plan.” The upcoming meeting marks Netanyahu’s fifth visit with Trump as the US president took office earlier in the year, and the first since the Trump administration successfully brokered a ceasefire and hostage release agreement that brought an end to two years of conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet confirmed the duration of Netanyahu’s stay in the US or the specific location of the meeting. However, Hebrew media reports suggest Netanyahu is seeking to extend his visit from December 28 to January 4, coinciding with a period of public holidays for many US government employees.
Reports further indicate the meeting is likely to take place at Trump’s Mar-a-lago resort in South Florida, a location conveniently near where Netanyahu’s son resides. Trump extended the invitation to Netanyahu earlier this month, with speculation centering on discussions to advance the American leader’s peace plan for Gaza, alongside ongoing security negotiations with Syria and Lebanon, and other pressing regional issues.
The two leaders last met in Israel on October 13 during a brief visit by Trump to commemorate the ceasefire agreement.
Currently, officials are focused on implementing the second phase of the administration’s 20-point plan to end the war, which details governing arrangements for the Gaza enclave. This plan calls for the disarmament of Hamas, the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic governing body, and the deployment of a multinational force as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdraw. Israel has consistently maintained that Hamas’s disarmament is a prerequisite for any progress on the plan.
Netanyahu expressed skepticism on Sunday regarding the feasibility of a multinational force successfully disarming Hamas, while simultaneously reaffirming his commitment to achieving disarmament and highlighting Israel’s military capabilities.
Also expected to be on the agenda is the stalled security arrangement with Syria. Negotiations have reportedly hit a snag due to Israel’s shifting demands regarding the withdrawal of its troops from territories in southern Syria occupied since last December. Initially, Israel justified its presence in the area by citing concerns about the land falling into the “wrong hands,” and indicated it would remain until a new security agreement was reached. However, recent reports suggest Jerusalem now demands full diplomatic relations with Damascus, a condition Syria has rejected.
Last week, Trump cautioned Israel against actions that could destabilize Syria and its new leadership, following clashes between IDF soldiers and gunmen in southern Syria. he also expressed satisfaction with the performance of new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Trump recently hosted both al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, promising Riyadh advanced F-35 fighter jets despite the Saudis’ continued reluctance to normalize ties with israel. This potential sale has raised concerns about a possible erosion of Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region,a factor Trump is obligated to protect by congressional mandate.
The declaration of netanyahu’s trip coincided with a visit by US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz to Israel for discussions related to the Gaza plan. During a Monday meeting with Netanyahu, Waltz commended Israel for reopening a crossing linking Jordan and the West Bank, which had been closed following a deadly attack earlier this year involving a Jordanian truck driver carrying aid to Gaza.
“Waltz welcomed Israel’s cooperation on expanding border crossings, including the Allenby-King Hussein Bridge crossing, for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to address regional stability,” according to a US statement. waltz,formerly Trump’s national security advisor,visited the reopened crossing Monday after meeting with Jordan’s king Abdullah on Sunday to discuss “the need for stability in the West Bank.”
The US readout of the meeting with King Abdullah indicated a growing focus on Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, a topic the Trump administration has begun to address after months of escalating attacks and perceived impunity. waltz, whose wife is Jordanian, reportedly thanked the king for Jordan’s humanitarian efforts towards Palestinians.
