Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for Washington on Monday for a meeting with President Donald Trump, with Iran and expanding the circle of peace at the top of the agenda. Netanyahu also said he would pay final respects to the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The departure was conducted in secrecy from Nevatim airbase, without journalists on board.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for Washington on Monday, July 27, aboard the "Wing of Zion" (4X-ISR) aircraft from Nevatim Airbase, in a departure conducted without advance notice. No journalists were on board, and the government did not appoint an acting prime minister before the flight, an unusual procedural gap reported by Israeli media.
Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday — his eighth meeting with Trump since the president began his second term, more than any other foreign leader. The prime minister said the talks would focus on "all the issues on the agenda, first and foremost Iran." He also stated his goal of preserving Israel's security and expanding the circle of peace.
Before boarding, Netanyahu said he would also attend the memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham, whom he called "a true friend of mine and of the State of Israel." The trip follows a security assessment on Friday that conditionally approved the visit, and a cabinet meeting on Sunday where Netanyahu detailed ongoing counter-terror operations in Judea and Samaria.
The Zioneer reported earlier Monday on the departure and Netanyahu's statement, noting the prime minister's emphasis on confronting Iran's nuclear ambitions and opposing any deal that would allow Tehran to rebuild economically.
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