Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the White House, the premier’s office announced Friday, in what will be the leaders’ first sit-down since the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28.

Netanyahu will fly to Washington on Monday and depart on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter.

In addition to meeting Trump, Netanyahu’s Tuesday schedule will include attending a memorial service for the late, pro-Israel Republican senator Lindsey Graham.

The idea for a visit was first raised during a call between the two leaders on July 3.

After Graham died suddenly on July 11, Netanyahu announced that he would be flying to the US for his funeral.

He wanted to meet with Trump while in town, but the White House reportedly held off on scheduling a meeting, as Netanyahu’s popularity among both US political parties continued to nosedive.

There were also reportedly concerns among Trump’s aides that if the US decided to launch a major attack after the president met with Netanyahu, Washington would again be accused of being dragged into the conflict by Israel.

While Netanyahu aimed to meet Trump earlier this week, his office announced that his trip was put on hold due to the purported delay of Graham’s funeral to next week.

If Netanyahu ends up making the trip to Washington next week, it would suggest that a major US escalation against Iran is not in store, despite Trump’s repeated threats against Tehran.

Israel and the US........

© The Times of Israel