Benjamin Netanyahu in D.C.: Series of meetings to begin; U.S. pushing for second stage of deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss the second phase of Hamas deal, Iran, normalization with Saudi Arabia and other issues; Trump trying to urge Israel to agree to second phase of the deal.


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Washington, D.C. to meet President Donald Trump and to hold talks on a variety of issues, including the continuation of negotiations with Hamas ahead of the second phase of the deal, which the United States is trying to promote.
A series of meetings is expected to begin today (Monday) when the Prime Minister meets with Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy to the Middle East, in what will effectively open discussions on the continuation of the deal with Hamas.
The British newspaper The Guardian stressed that this meeting could be a "decisive moment" regarding the second stage of the deal with Hamas. "If these talks fail, Israel 'may' renew its offensive in early March," it said.
The message from the White House is that Netanyahu is perceived as a junior partner, and it seems that Donald Trump is pushing to continue the agreement with Hamas for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The New York-based Sufan Center said that Trump officials warned that "the renewed fighting in the Middle East will distract the new Trump team from dealing with what Trump defines as a more urgent priority," which may be part of the reason why Trump is pushing Israel to reach an agreement with Hamas.
On Tuesday, as mentioned, the summit meeting with President Trump will cover the issues from the deal with Hamas, through the Iranian nuclear program, to the normalization process with Saudi Arabia. After the meeting, which will take place at 1 a.m. Israel time, the two will hold a press conference, a joint dinner, and a meeting with the families of the hostages.