Benjamin Netanyahu reveals second secret meeting with Donald Trump in Washington

Benjamin Netanyahu revealed he met Donald Trump privately for a second time while visiting Washington – and their discussion centred around one key issue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Donald Trump behind closed doors a second time earlier this week, it has been revealed.

Mr Netanyahu explained in a post on X he also met with Vice President JD Vance away from public view.

“We focused on the efforts to release our hostages. We are not relenting, even for a moment, and this is made possible due to the military pressure by our heroic soldiers,” Mr Netanyahu wrote.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth (R) stands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an arrival ceremony. Picture: AFP

“Unfortunately, this effort has exacted a painful price from us, the loss of the best of our sons.

“But we are determined to achieve all of our objectives: The release of all of our hostages – the living and the deceased, and the elimination of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, thereby ensuring that Gaza will never again constitute a threat to Israel.”

Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, alongside his wife Jennifer Rauchet (R), and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with his wife Sara. Picture: AFP

Mr Netanyahu said the meeting did touch on other points as well.

“We also discussed the implications and possibilities of the great victory that we achieved over Iran.

“Opportunities have been opened here for expanding the circle of peace, for expanding the Abraham Accords. We are working on this with full vigour.

The Hegseths and Netanyahus embrace as they arrive for an honour cordon at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

“I also conveyed to President Trump your appreciation, citizens of Israel, for supporting us, for the determined action he took and for the joint effort that we are making today to bring a great future to the Middle East and to the State of Israel.”

Benjamin Netanyahu (L) is joined by Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and other officials for a meeting at the Pentagon. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

FOLLOW UPDATES BELOW:

NETANYAHU BRUSHES ASIDE ‘SILLY’ ARREST THREAT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed aside Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s threat to arrest him as “silly” and teased plans to swing through New York City in defiance of the socialist’s warning.

“I’m not concerned about that,” Mr Netanyahu told reporters at the White House during his working dinner with President Trump, the New York Post reports.

“There’s enough craziness in the world, but I guess it never ends. This is folly and it’s silly in many ways,” the prime minister continued.

“I’m going to come there with President Trump and we’ll see.”

Mr Trump then quipped, “I’ll get him out.”

Zohran Mamdani, Democratic candidate for New York City mayor. Picture: AFP

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Last year, Mr Mamdani said he would not welcome Mr Netanyahu to New York City in light of the International Criminal Court’s warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu’s and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant’s arrest, issued last year.

“No. As mayor, New York City would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a city that our values are in line with international law. It’s time that our actions are also,” Mr Mamdani said last December.

After Mr Netanyahu shrugged off Mr Mamdani’s threat, Mr Trump then publicly assured the Israeli prime minister that he had nothing to worry about under his watch.

“He’s going to be very fine. And we don’t know who the mayor is going to be yet, but this is a communist. He’s not a socialist. He’s a communist, and he’s said some really bad things about Jewish people,” Mr Trump said.

(L-R): Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee during a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

“And he’s said some really bad things about a lot of people. And I think he’s going through a bit of a honeymoon right now but he might make it.

“He’s going to behave,” Mr Trump added, referring to Mr Mamdani. “He’ll behave. He better behave. Otherwise, he’s going to have big problems.”

Mr Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, scored an upset victory over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in last month’s Democratic primary.

The Queens assembly man has long been a fierce critic of Israel and Netanyahu, particularly concerning the war in the Gaza Strip and the treatment of the Palestinian people.

Mr Mamdani has publicly rejected recognising Israel as a Jewish state, saying that he’s “not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else.”

US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak to the press as they meet at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on July 8, 2025. Picture: AFP

New York City has the largest Jewish population of any city in the world, at approximately 1.3 million.

It also has the largest Muslim population of any US city, with an estimated 750,000 adherents of that faith.

NETANYAHU NOMINATED TRUMP FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, presenting the US president with a letter he sent to the prize committee.

“He’s forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other,” Mr Netanyahu said at a dinner with Mr Trump at the White House.

Mr Trump has received multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations from supporters and loyal politicians over the years, and has made no secret of his irritation at missing out on the prestigious award.

The Republican has complained that he had been overlooked by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for his mediating role in conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as Serbia and Kosovo.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, hands President Donald Trump a folder during a meeting in the Blue Room of the White House. Picture: AP

He has also demanded credit for “keeping peace” between Egypt and Ethiopia and broking the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements aiming to normalise relations between Israel and several Arab nations.

Mr Trump campaigned for office as a “peacemaker” who would use his negotiating skills to quickly end wars in Ukraine and Gaza, although both conflicts are still raging more than five months into his presidency.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Picture: AP

Mr Trump has voiced confidence that Hamas was willing to end the conflict in Gaza, which is entering its 22nd month.

“They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire,” President Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if clashes involving Israeli soldiers would derail talks.

Mr Netanyahu ruled out a full Palestinian state, saying that Israel will “always” keep security control over the Gaza Strip.

“Now, people will say it’s not a complete state, it’s not a state. We don’t care,” he said.

Mediators in the ongoing negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal have been notified that President Trump expects them to secure an agreement this week, sources told The Times of Israel.

US President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Blue Room of the White House in Washington. Picture: AFP

Ahead of Mr Netanyahu’s third visit since Mr Trump’s return to office this year, the US president said there was a “good chance we have a deal with Hamas … during the coming week”.

Mr Netanyahu, speaking before heading to Washington, said his meeting with Mr Trump could “definitely help advance this” deal after 21 months of war.

Mr Netanyahu said he had dispatched the team to the Qatari capital with “clear instructions” to reach an agreement “under the conditions that we have agreed to”.

– with AFP