Netanyahu Arrives in Washington to Meet Trump on Iran, Gaza and Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday, July 27, 2026, to meet the following day with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, in the eighth meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to the presidency. The meeting, which lasted nearly an hour and a half and was described as “positive and productive” by the White House, addressed the war with Iran, the situation in Gaza, the implementation of the security agreement between Israel and Lebanon, and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords.

A meeting marked by friction and partial agreement

Netanyahu’s trip coincided with the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11 and was one of Israel’s staunchest defenders in the U.S. Senate. The meeting took place amid unprecedented friction between the two governments over U.S. policy toward Iran and the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, a delivery Netanyahu opposes. When asked whether he and Netanyahu agreed on Iran, Trump replied: “We have some differences, but we’re fairly close”.

Elections in Israel and new negotiations in Rome

Days earlier, Trump had publicly claimed credit for Israel’s existence, stating that “without me, there would be no Israel,” remarks that deepened discontent in Jerusalem. The visit also came ahead of legislative elections in Israel, adding a domestic political dimension to the encounter. Netanyahu also separately coordinated with Israel and Lebanon the resumption of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Rome, from August 4 to 6, to implement the border agreement between the two countries.