Trump invites Netanyahu back to White House

The US President and Israeli PM will discuss ‘expanding’ the Gaza peace agreement but Trump also warned Israel not to ‘interfere’ in Syria.

Donald Trump has invited Benjamin Netanyahu back to the White House.

Donald Trump has invited Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the White House “in the near future” to discuss the next stage of the Gaza peace plan, but warned Israel not to destabilise Syria.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said in a statement: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening, spoke with US President Donald Trump. Trump has invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to a meeting at the White House in the near future.”

Mr Netanyahu’s office added: “The two leaders stressed the importance and obligation of disarming Hamas and demilitarising the Gaza Strip, and discussed expanding the peace agreements.”

However, Mr Trump warned Israel on Monday against destabilising Syria and its new leadership, days after a deadly operation by Israeli forces in the south of the country.

“It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Mr Trump said he was “very satisfied” with Syria’s performance under former Islamist rebel President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who made a historic visit to the White House in November.

Mr Trump has been pushing for a security pact between Israel and Syria since Mr Sharaa’s Islamist coalition overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad a year ago.

But tensions have risen over hundreds of strikes by Israel on Syria. In the deadliest so far, Israeli forces killed 13 people on Friday in an operation in southern Syria, saying they targeted an Islamist group.

Mr Trump said Mr Sharaa “is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together”.

He added that the US was “doing everything within our power to make sure the government of Syria continues to do what was intended” to rebuild the war-torn country.

Good relations between Syria and Israel would add to his efforts for a wider Middle East peace following the fragile Gaza ceasefire in October, the US President said.

AFP