JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday prior to boarding a plane to Washington, he intends ‘’to discuss with (US) President Trump a series of issues but first Iran – its aggression, its nuclear aspirations, and its aggressive actions in the Middle East in general and on our borders, all of them, in particular.’’
‘’I think that the need to rebuff this aggression is a common goal for us and for nearby countries in the region, but first of all it is ours, that of all Israelis,’’he added.
He continued : ‘’I am going there on behalf of all citizens of Israel, to achieve three goals: Security, peace and economic prosperity for all citizens of Israel, for our country.”
During his 5-day visit, Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump on Monday. It will be the two leaders’ fifth meeting. On Tuesday, he will address the annual convention of the Amrican Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the largest pro-Israel group in the US. p might be invited to opening of U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
“While speaking with the president, I will thank him on behalf of the Israeli public for moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem in honor of Israel’s 70th Independence Day,’’ the Israeli Prime Minister also said.
He said he and Trump would discuss advancing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which he called “very important for Israel” and “important for the security of the entire world.”
One diplomatic official confirmed that it was “definitely possible that Netanyahu will invite Trump to the embassy opening.”
Trump visited Israel last year, only a few months after he was elected in November 2016. In addition to the president, Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with legislators from the Senate and the House of Representatives and discuss Iran’s nuclear program and the Palestinian Authority’s payments to terrorists and terrorists’ families.
Netanyahu arrives in the U.S. shortly after a Gallup poll was published showing an all-time high of 74% support for Israel among the American public. On Wednesday, Netanyahu is scheduled to depart Washington for New York, where he has two events scheduled: a tribute evening to former Prisoner of Zion and current Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, and a visit to an exhibit at U.N. headquarters dedicated to the Jewish people’s historic connection to Jerusalem.
Netanyahu’s trip comes during a particularly turbulent time for him domestically. On Friday, he and his wife were questioned under caution by the Israel Police regarding a corruption case dubbed Case 4,000.
The case centers on potentially illicit dealings and conflict of interest involving Israeli telecom corporation Bezeq and the Walla news website, which Bezeq owns. The police allege that Bezeq controlling shareholder Shaul Elovitch ensured positive coverage by Walla for Netanyahu, in exchange for the prime minister promoting government regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the company.
