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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Washington this week, marking a historic moment as the first foreign leader to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in his second term.
This visit starkly contrasts Netanyahu's experience with the previous administration, where he initially struggled to secure a meeting with the president. Now, however, he arrives in Washington as the leader of a nation at war, with Trump already positioning himself as one of Israel's staunchest allies.
The agenda is expected to center on the Middle East, where Trump has wasted no time taking decisive action. In just the first few weeks of his new term, he has dispatched his chief Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region, signed executive orders cutting funding to UNRWA, sanctioned the International Criminal Court, and expedited weapons access to Israel—including to the massive bombs needed for an attack against Iranian nuclear facilities.
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US President Donald Trump signs an anti-immigrant law in a White House ceremony
(Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Yet beyond the expected display of solidarity, Netanyahu faces a critical task. Here are five key issues the prime minister should consider prioritizing in this meeting.
1 - Align on Israel's next steps on Iran
For the past 16 months, Israel has been fighting a seven-front war, with Iran at the center of the conflict. Many in Israel have been waiting for Trump's return to office to coordinate an attack on the regime and set back its nuclear program.
Some believed Trump might lead the U.S. in a direct strike against Iran. However, his inauguration speech suggested otherwise. Trump stated, "We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end — and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into."
At the same time, Trump has already taken steps to support Israel's military efforts. He instructed the U.S. military to lift a hold—imposed by former Democratic President Joe Biden—on supplying Israel with 2,000-pound bombs. This move enables Israel to carry out a large-scale attack if necessary and is perhaps an encouragement for Israel to do so.
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In October, Israel launched precision air and drone strikes targeting air defense systems protecting key Iranian oil and gas facilities, as well as military sites linked to Tehran's nuclear program and ballistic missile production. Reports suggest the damage was far greater than Iran has admitted, and hence Israel is better prepared than ever for another strike.
Still, the question remains: is targeting Iran's nuclear facilities the best course of action? Some experts argue that attacking Iran's energy infrastructure would be more effective, while others suggest economic pressure and support for internal opposition could push Iranians to overthrow their regime.
Regardless of the strategy, any attack should be coordinated with the United States. Netanyahu must use this visit to either begin—or finalize—those plans.
As Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror told The Media Line, "I am not stating that we need approval from America—we can do it without their approval. I am not saying we should do it with them—we can do it ourselves. But it would be a big mistake not to coordinate."
2 - Push for full implementation of the hostage deal
When Netanyahu arrives in Washington, Israel will be about halfway through the first phase of the hostage deal. However, two more phases remain. If both sides agree, the remaining 65 hostages not released in phase I will be freed in phase II.
The families of these hostages have personally appealed to Trump and Witkoff, urging them to keep negotiations moving and ensure the deal is fully implemented. On Saturday, upon the release of American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, his family said in a statement: "Thank you president Trump, for bringing our father back to us. There are now 79 hostages who are also waiting to be reunited with their loved ones. Our hope rests with you."
Netanyahu must reinforce this message, despite resistance from his far-right coalition.
As Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, the parents of murdered American-Israeli hostage Hirsh Goldberg-Polin, put it, "All of Israel needs to begin a national healing process that can only truly start when all the hostages have been brought home."
3 - Secure U.S. commitment to confront the Houthis
After more than a year of Houthi strikes on ships in the Red Sea, the United States last month formed a coalition of more than 20 nations to respond.
In January, a joint statement from Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom warned the Houthis against further attacks on international shipping. When the Houthis ignored that warning, the coalition – led by the United Kingdom and the United States – responded with force, launching air and missile strikes against dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen.
For now, the Houthis have held their fire against Israel, as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in place. However, there are no guarantees this will last. That said, Houthi attacks on Israel have been minor compared to their assaults on commercial shipping. Israel should not take the lead in this fight.
American policies over the last decade have allowed the Houthis to strengthen, some analysts have said. The group has used its own resources, along with Iranian support, to develop increasingly sophisticated weapons. As a result, the Houthis remain a significant security and economic threat.
Netanyahu must ensure that Trump fully grasps America's role in the battle against the Houthis. He should push for a commitment that the U.S. and its allies will conduct further strikes if Houthi attacks on shipping continue. In the long term, Trump must also explore ways to cut off Iranian support to the Houthis, preventing future escalation.
4 - Express gratitude for faith-driven support of Israel
The Trump administration has stated that one of its key goals is to achieve peace in the Middle East. Previous efforts have failed, and as the saying goes, one cannot keep doing the same thing while expecting different results.
Trump is, therefore, likely to take a new approach.
New legislation has been introduced in Congress and the Senate to change the official terminology for the area currently known as the West Bank. The proposed bill mandates that all government documents refer to the region as "Judea and Samaria"—a term that aligns with biblical and historical references.
This shift is significant for strengthening the Jewish historical connection to the land, influencing international dialogue, and reshaping the debate around the two-state solution.
"We need to make sure that we don't allow the language, the tradition, the history of Israel, to be weaponized by terms like 'West Bank,'" said Rep. Claudia Tenney, who introduced the bill in Congress. Speaking at the re-launch party of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus last month, she emphasized the importance of reclaiming accurate terminology. According to Tenney, Trump supports the legislation.
In another major move, Trump has nominated Rev. Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and a staunch supporter of Israel, as U.S. ambassador to the Jewish state. Huckabee has long championed Israel's biblical heartland and told Army Radio in November that "of course," the annexation of Judea and Samaria is a possibility under a second Trump administration.
Additionally, in September, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman published a book outlining a proposed solution for Judea and Samaria. His plan calls for extending Israeli sovereignty over the entire region while granting permanent residency to the approximately 2.7 million Palestinians living there. It also seeks American and Gulf support for a "Marshall Plan" to improve the area's healthcare, education, and economic development.
Although Friedman has not been given a role in Trump's new administration, he remains closely connected to the president. Whether Trump will adopt this plan is unclear, but he is almost certainly aware of it.
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Netanyahu should emphasize this ideological shift in his talks with Trump, highlighting his appreciation for evangelical Christians and their unwavering, faith-based support for Israel. He must also signal openness to creative solutions, especially given that his own government has firmly rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state "between the river and the sea."
5 - Define what's off the table in talks with Saudi Arabia
Finally, the establishment of a Palestinian state has been one of the key conditions for normalization with Saudi Arabia—a goal that Trump appears determined to push forward.
Israel stands to gain significantly from a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia and the countries that may follow. Regional stability would strengthen Israel's position and enhance its ability to deter Iran, which is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons.
However, Israel cannot agree to the creation of a Palestinian state at this time. Many argue that such a move would be a reward for the heinous terror attack carried out by Hamas on October 7.
Moreover, the Palestinian Authority remains deeply corrupt and mismanaged. A poll released over the summer by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah found that only 20% of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza wanted the PA's Fatah party to govern them—while twice as many still supported Hamas.
Therefore, unless there are unexpected major changes, a functional government for a Palestinian state would not be viable.
When Israel signed the Abraham Accords in 2020, it agreed to put its plans to annex parts of the West Bank on hold. The United Arab Emirates spearheaded the deal, securing a promise from Netanyahu's government to halt annexation efforts—an arrangement that had Trump's approval.
Today, post-October 7, the landscape has changed. Before negotiations with Saudi Arabia advance too far, Netanyahu must align with Trump on which options should be off the table. Defining clear red lines now could prevent complications down the road.
Maayan HoffmanJoshua PaseMaayan Hoffman is executive editor and strategist for ILTV and a correspondent for The Media Line.