▲ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assessed on the 28th local time that his meeting with US President Donald Trump earlier that day went very well.
In a video message recorded after finishing his meeting with President Trump at the White House and before attending a memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "I just concluded a wonderful meeting with President Donald. Today's encounter was one of the best meetings ever."
He went on to state that total cooperation and mutual support were achieved during the meeting, which marked their first face-to-face contact since the outbreak of the war with Iran, adding, "We shared an understanding on various issues, including our common goal of blocking Iran's nuclear armament."
Reiterating that "it was one of the best conversations I've shared with President Trump," Netanyahu emphasized, "It was an opportunity to exchange views and coordinate vital matters concerning Israel's security and future."
Tzipi Hotovely, head of Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate who accompanied Prime Minister Netanyahu on his visit to the US, reported that there was no mention during the summit of Iran's secret nuclear facility, "Pickaxe Mountain," which President Trump had previously raised as a potential target for airstrikes.
Hotovely stated, "The notion that we brought some sort of intelligence to this meeting is fake news," adding, "We cooperate with US intelligence agencies through our own channels. A meeting was not necessary to deliver intelligence."
In an interview with Fox News prior to his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump showed an annoyed reaction, remarking, "Bibi doesn't need to tell me about that (Pickaxe Mountain)."
Hotovely also shared that during the meeting, when Prime Minister Netanyahu referred to the late Senator Lindsey Graham as Israel's "best friend," President Trump corrected him by saying, "Israel's best friend is me. Lindsey was number two."
Hotovely added that there was no pressure to expedite the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip or to withdraw Israeli forces from Syria and Lebanon.
In addition, the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords was mentioned during the meeting, whereas the violence committed by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank was not discussed.
President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu launched a war against Iran on February 28 with the stated goal of regime change in Iran, showcasing their alliance through joint operations.
However, the two leaders have shown multiple instances of discord during discussions on ending the war with Iran.
In particular, as Iran proposed a truce in Lebanon as a condition for ending the war, Israel showed an uncooperative stance, which sparked rumors of a rift between the two leaders.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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