Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington was not included in the White House's official schedule. According to Axios, although Netanyahu's office had made logistical preparations for the meeting, a face-to-face appointment with Trump was not finalized.
The fact that Netanyahu has been received in the Oval Office multiple times since Trump's return to office makes the unanswered request this time particularly notable. This points to a more complex phase in relations at a time when the strategic priorities of the two countries are diverging.
Disagreements over F-35 and Iran
According to Axios, disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv over Iran and Turkey have become more pronounced. Netanyahu's public criticism of the Trump administration's consideration of selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey caused discomfort in the White House. This criticism is said to reflect broader disagreements over regional strategy.
Opposition in US Congress to Israel aid
The political atmosphere in Washington is also becoming increasingly difficult for Netanyahu. According to CNN, an amendment aimed at blocking billions of dollars in military aid to Israel was voted on in the US House of Representatives this week. Although the amendment was rejected, the fact that it received the support of 103 Democrats revealed the extent of the internal debate within the party over Israel policy.
The vote also exposed divisions within the Democratic leadership. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar opposed the amendment, while Minority Whip Katherine Clark supported it. Progressive Democratic lawmakers interpreted the result as a message that military aid should no longer be seen as automatic. Representative Greg Casar said the vote signaled that future aid would be questioned, while Ilhan Omar noted that this moment was once considered unlikely.
Taken together, the uncertainty over the White House appointment and the debates in Congress show that Netanyahu faces a more challenging political environment in Washington compared to previous periods. Axios also noted that the possibility of a future meeting between Trump and Netanyahu has not been entirely ruled out. However, the delay in face-to-face contact and the divisions in Congress indicate that US-Israel relations are being reshaped by changing strategic calculations and domestic political dynamics.
