Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will head to the White House on Monday to sit down with U.S. President Donald Trump, three Israeli officials and one White House official say. The sit-down will cover Trump’s newly proposed tariff actions, as well as Iran and the current hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the officials say.
If confirmed, this would be the first foreign leader visit to Washington since Trump started his second term in January. The visit, which was termed as spontaneous, follows a Thursday phone call during which Trump invited him. Netanyahu, who is on a visit to Hungary, expressed concern over the tariffs during the call.
Trump’s most recent trade measure consists of a 17% tax on unspecified some Israeli imports to the U.S.—an action that triggered a warning signal in Israel. America is Israel’s biggest trade partner, and both nations have a close trade relation that has been bolstered by a four-decade-old free trade accord.
A Finance Ministry official said the tariffs would impact top Israeli exports, such as machinery and medical equipment. The move has raised fears of economic reprisals, especially since Israel had already eliminated its last remaining tariffs on American imports just a few days ago. To date, around 98% of American goods are imported duty-free into Israel.
Although Netanyahu’s office has not officially confirmed the visit, the plan reported is believed to indicate increasing urgency within the Israeli government to resolve the tariff issue soon. The visit might be accompanied by strategic talks on Iran’s regional efforts and the ongoing military campaign in Gaza against the Palestinian Hamas group.
The White House has not made an official statement yet confirming the meeting.