Despite probes, PM hopes to conduct business as usual in US
During 5-day trip to the US, Netanyahu prepares to address AIPAC, rally support for fixing or nixing Iran nuclear deal, discuss peace initiative with President Donald Trump and invite his 'true friend' in the White House to participate in inauguration of US Embassy in Jerusalem.
Officials in the prime minister's close circle say that the investigations involving bribery have no effect on the complex preparations that took place ahead of his trip.
“I am leaving tonight for the US for an important visit. There I will meet with US President Donald Trump and I will deliver a speech at the annual AIPAC Conference,” he said before boarding the plane.
“I will thank him in Israel’s name for transferring the American Embassy to Jerusalem in honor of 70 years of the State of Israel. I will discuss with the president first of all Iran, especially in anticipation of the decision on the matter of its nuclear program,” he added.
Trump will be accompanying Netanyahu and his wife to Blair House, the president’s guest house, as an expression of good relations between the two leaders and their countries.
Netanyahu and Trump are also likely to consolidate common ground and positions in what will be their fifth meeting this year.
However, both leaders enter their meeting against a backdrop of decline inpolitical fortunes, not least since the president is facing the lowest support rate among the American public.
Moreover, many reports are surfacing about disagreements and disputes within his close circle. The president is reported to have grown disappointed with his son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner and his daughter Ivanka Trump.
According to a report in the New York Times, Trump asked his White House Chief of Staff John Kelly to assist him in firing his two family members due to the president’s dissatifaction in Kushner’s performance and in light of the negative reports surrounding the poltiical rookie, most recently that his security clearance of White House was downgraded, significantly reducing his access to classified information.
The change was reportedly carried out in light of concerns by US intelligence officials over him being manipulated by foreign officials, including Israelis, due to his current financial difficulties and lack of political experience.
Haunted at home, Netanyahu is also entering his meeting with Trump and will addressing to largest pro-Israel forum against the shadow of a string of probes closing in on him. Nevertheless, the Israeli premier is expected to invite Trump to Israel to participate in the inauguration of the new US Embassy in demonstration of “business as usual.”
The political benefits could also be reaped by Netanyahu if the US president were to take him up on his offer. With early election now potentially on the horizon amid a crisis in his fragile Likud-ruled coalition, a snapshot with the president at the new US Embassy may serve him well in any upcoming election campaigns, depicting him as the leader who finally convinced an American president to do what many had promised.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict will also be on the agenda as Trump moves a step closer to unveiling his plan for the “ultimate deal” in the stagnant peace process. Whether Trump plans to present it however, particularly given the Palestinians’ refusal to discuss the matter anymore with the White House, still reeling since it recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, is a matter that the two leaders will be discussing.
Iran, however, will remain a top priority of Netanyahu’s during the discussions, aware that he has found a receptive ear in Trump in his bid to fix or nix the Iranian nuclear deal.
The two leaders will also be looking to reach an agreement on how to react in the event that world leaders address the flaws repeatedly delineated or fail to remedy any of the concerns before the May 12 deadline set by Trump before he pulls out of the agreement all together.
The matter will also be raised by Netanyahu at the AIPAC Conference on Tuesday. The pro-Israel lobby has is a staunch supporter of a bill intended to widen sanctions against the Iranian regime.
