President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to meet at the White House on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office. This will mark the seventh Oval Office meeting between the two leaders since President Trump's second term began. Netanyahu is traveling to Washington to attend the funeral service for the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
The meeting occurs as the Trump administration evaluates the possibility of resuming major combat operations in Iran. Such actions could potentially involve a joint military campaign with Israel, following the model of Operation Epic Fury conducted in February. Observers noted that the scheduling of the diplomatic visit may suggest that no immediate military escalation is planned prior to the meeting, though previous high-level visits have occasionally preceded military actions.
The confirmation of the meeting follows several days of uncertainty regarding Netanyahu's schedule. Last week, White House officials indicated that a meeting had not yet been finalized despite requests from the Israeli delegation. President Trump told reporters on Thursday that he would meet with the Prime Minister if he were in Washington for Senator Graham's services. Netanyahu's office confirmed he will depart for the United States on Monday.