Netanyahu arrives in US for Trump summit seeking freedom on Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon - Amichai Stein

 

by Amichai Stein

According to Israeli officials, roughly 30% of Israel’s operational objectives remain unfulfilled, namely, the return of Ran Gvili, the final hostage whose remains are being held by Hamas.

 

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach out to shake hands at the White House.

(photo credit: JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS)

Monday's meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump will mark their sixth encounter since Trump took office nearly a year ago.

Once again, the agenda is expected to revolve around three familiar concerns: Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.

What sets this meeting apart is that hostilities have formally ended across these fronts, at least in Washington's view. According to Israeli officials, however, roughly 30% of Israel’s operational objectives remain unfulfilled, namely, the return of Ran Gvili, the final hostage whose remains are being held by Hamas.

Netanyahu is expected to arrive in Washington to convince the US president that Israel must retain the freedom to act.

That means finishing the dismantling of Hamas’s military infrastructure in Gaza, curbing Iran’s ability to resume ballistic missile development, and remaining on high alert in Lebanon and Syria, where officials say security conditions are still too fragile for normalization.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC, US, September 29, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST)

The challenge for the Israeli premier lies in the shifting mood inside the White House. Trump’s inner circle, according to sources familiar with internal discussions, believes that Hamas disarmament in Gaza may be achievable through diplomatic and economic means, without Israeli forces resuming combat.

When it comes to Iran, the administration has reiterated that any return to nuclear weapons development constitutes a red line. Yet officials have been less vocal about the Islamic Republic’s missile program.

How Syria and Turkey fit in

In Syria, President Ahmed al-Sharaa is reportedly seen by the Trump administration as a stabilizing factor - one Israel should avoid confronting directly. And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is increasingly viewed in Washington not as a disruptor, but as a potential regional partner.

These positions are expected to shape the conversation. While Netanyahu may present compelling evidence for continued Israeli operations, he will also face pressure from US advisers who are focused on securing a long-term diplomatic achievement - what Trump has described as “the best future for the Middle East in 3,000 years.”

These are the positions Netanyahu will have to confront. He will arrive armed with intelligence and evidence, but he will still face the stance of most of the president’s advisers and Trump’s desire for calm - and for the plan that bears his name to be preserved.

There is one more thing: there is a limit to how many times one can say “no” to Trump. So which of these issues will Netanyahu ultimately be forced to say “yes” to? 

Amichai Stein

Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-881676

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