International-News

Netanyahu at Trump’s: press conference skipped, focus on duties and bilateral relations

Israeli PM also met with special envoy Steve Witkoff. Joint press point with US president postponed, focus remains on trade dossier

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington today for a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. The Republican tycoon warmly welcomed the Israeli premier at the entrance to the West Wing, but shortly afterwards the planned joint press point scheduled at the end of the talks was cancelled without explanation.

Before joining Trump, Netanyahu also met Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East, at the Blair House presidential residence. It was an interlocutory conversation that anticipated the face-to-face meeting with the head of the White House.

The focus of the meeting, Trump declared, will be mainly on trade. Netanyahu himself, before leaving for the United States, had declared his intention to discuss with the president the ‘tariff regime’ imposed by Washington on Israel. Currently, the US applies 17% duties on some Israeli imports.

‘I hope I can help,’ Netanyahu had said, stressing the importance of the confrontation with Trump precisely in light of the announcement of the new tariffs. ‘I am the first international leader to meet with the president after the introduction of the new tariffs,’ he added, noting how the visit was a sign of the ’strong personal bond and relations between the two countries at such a crucial time.’

The absence of the final press conference, although not officially motivated, fuels attention on the ongoing negotiations and the actual outcome of the closed-door talks.

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