Netanyahu arrives to Trump White House in turmoil
The Israeli prime minister, who has long hoped to work with a Republican US president, arrives to a White House in crisis, but early enough, he hopes, to influence policies.
WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long hoped to work with a Republican US president, finds himself arriving to a Trump White House in open crisis, with the resignation of Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, the night of Feb. 13.
Netanyahu’s acting national security adviser, Yaakov Nagel, had met with Flynn earlier that day to prepare the agenda for the Feb. 15 meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, Israeli Channel 2’s Udi Segal told Al-Monitor. After they wrapped up their talks, they hugged and said they would see each other the next day. Two hours later, Flynn was out, Segal said. The Israeli delegation was stunned.
The White House, for its part, said Iran would be a key part of the conversation on Feb. 15, and reiterated that Trump wanted to advance Middle East peace, but would not seek to dictate the terms.
"We're looking at the two sides to come together to make peace together and we'll be there to help them," a senior administration official, speaking not for attribution, told the White House press pool Feb. 13.
