Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Israel’s agenda heading into talks at the White House, the uncertain status of U.S.-Iran peace talks, and wildfires spreading across France and Spain.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is finally getting his White House meeting. After reportedly angling for an invite to Washington for months, the Israeli leader will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday for their first face-to-face meeting since the Iran war began.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Israel’s agenda heading into talks at the White House, the uncertain status of U.S.-Iran peace talks, and wildfires spreading across France and Spain.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is finally getting his White House meeting. After reportedly angling for an invite to Washington for months, the Israeli leader will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday for their first face-to-face meeting since the Iran war began.

“I am embarking on this mission with one clear goal—to ensure the security, strength, and future of our dear state of Israel,” Netanyahu said on Monday. But whereas past summits have largely served as opportunities to showcase the two leaders’ shared values, this week’s talks have unusually high stakes for both countries.

On Oct. 27, Israeli citizens will vote in parliamentary elections that could prove dire for Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party. Only 33 percent of Israelis consider Netanyahu as the best candidate to be prime minister, while 59 percent prefer someone else. To counter low public opinion, Netanyahu is expected to emphasize his close working partnership with Trump and push for a return to all-out war with Iran.

However, Trump may not be on the same page. Unlike Israel, which has characterized the Iran war as essential to tackling an existential threat, Trump has turned his attention to the Strait of Hormuz. Specifically, Trump appears focused on controlling the critical waterway in the hopes that U.S. influence will reinsert stability into global energy markets.

But U.S. citizens aren’t convinced.........

© Foreign Policy