Trump, Netanyahu may take a victory lap on Iran
As they meet at the White House for the third time this year, the outwardly triumphant visit will be dogged by Israel's 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza and questions over how hard Trump will push for an end to the conflict.
Trump has made clear that following last month's 12-day war between Israel and Iran, he would like to see the Gaza conflict end soon.
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to a US ceasefire proposal being discussed by Israel and Hamas, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear.
"The utmost priority for the president right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters hours before the two leaders meet for a private dinner.
Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the cooperation with the US for bringing a "huge victory over our shared enemy."
He struck a positive note on a ceasefire for Gaza, saying he was working "to achieve the deal under discussion, on the terms we agreed to".
The prime minister was scheduled to hold separate meetings on Monday with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the dinner with Trump.
Netanyahu is slated to meet Tuesday with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"I think that the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance that result, which all of us hope for," Netanyahu said.
Israel and Hamas appear to be inching toward a new ceasefire agreement that would bring about a 60-day pause in the fighting, send aid flooding into Gaza and free at least some of the remaining 50 hostages held in the territory, 20 of whom are believed to be living.
Leavitt announced on Monday that Witkoff will travel later this week to Doha, Qatar, for ceasefire and hostage talks.
But a perennial sticking point is whether the ceasefire will end the war altogether.
Hamas has said it is willing to free all the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu says the war will end once Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile — something it refuses to do.
Demonstrators, including hostage family members, gathered outside the US Capitol before the leaders' meeting to press for the release of all remaining hostages in any agreement.
"We cannot accept a deal for a partial release," said Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
"A partial deal would mean that some of the hostages will stay in the tunnels for more time and this would be a death sentence."
Trump has made it clear that he wants to be known as a peacemaker.
He has repeatedly trumpeted recent peace deals that his administration facilitated between India and Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and Israel and Iran, and for years has made little secret of the fact that he covets a Nobel Peace Prize.
He has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to wrap up their own conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, ravaged Gaza, deepened Israel's international isolation and made any resolution to the broader conflict between Israel and the Palestinians more distant than ever.
In the days before Netanyahu's visit, Trump seemed to downplay the chances for a breakthrough.
Asked on Friday how confident he was that a ceasefire deal would come together, Trump told reporters: "I'm very optimistic — but you know, look, it changes from day to day".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump might look to take a victory lap after their recent joint strikes on Iran but the Gaza war looms over their meeting.
As they meet at the White House for the third time this year, the outwardly triumphant visit will be dogged by Israel's 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza and questions over how hard Trump will push for an end to the conflict.
Trump has made clear that following last month's 12-day war between Israel and Iran, he would like to see the Gaza conflict end soon.
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to a US ceasefire proposal being discussed by Israel and Hamas, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear.
"The utmost priority for the president right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters hours before the two leaders meet for a private dinner.
Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the cooperation with the US for bringing a "huge victory over our shared enemy."
He struck a positive note on a ceasefire for Gaza, saying he was working "to achieve the deal under discussion, on the terms we agreed to".
The prime minister was scheduled to hold separate meetings on Monday with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the dinner with Trump.
Netanyahu is slated to meet Tuesday with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"I think that the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance that result, which all of us hope for," Netanyahu said.
Israel and Hamas appear to be inching toward a new ceasefire agreement that would bring about a 60-day pause in the fighting, send aid flooding into Gaza and free at least some of the remaining 50 hostages held in the territory, 20 of whom are believed to be living.
Leavitt announced on Monday that Witkoff will travel later this week to Doha, Qatar, for ceasefire and hostage talks.
But a perennial sticking point is whether the ceasefire will end the war altogether.
Hamas has said it is willing to free all the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu says the war will end once Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile — something it refuses to do.
Demonstrators, including hostage family members, gathered outside the US Capitol before the leaders' meeting to press for the release of all remaining hostages in any agreement.
"We cannot accept a deal for a partial release," said Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
"A partial deal would mean that some of the hostages will stay in the tunnels for more time and this would be a death sentence."
Trump has made it clear that he wants to be known as a peacemaker.
He has repeatedly trumpeted recent peace deals that his administration facilitated between India and Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and Israel and Iran, and for years has made little secret of the fact that he covets a Nobel Peace Prize.
He has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to wrap up their own conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, ravaged Gaza, deepened Israel's international isolation and made any resolution to the broader conflict between Israel and the Palestinians more distant than ever.
In the days before Netanyahu's visit, Trump seemed to downplay the chances for a breakthrough.
Asked on Friday how confident he was that a ceasefire deal would come together, Trump told reporters: "I'm very optimistic — but you know, look, it changes from day to day".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump might look to take a victory lap after their recent joint strikes on Iran but the Gaza war looms over their meeting.
As they meet at the White House for the third time this year, the outwardly triumphant visit will be dogged by Israel's 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza and questions over how hard Trump will push for an end to the conflict.
Trump has made clear that following last month's 12-day war between Israel and Iran, he would like to see the Gaza conflict end soon.
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to a US ceasefire proposal being discussed by Israel and Hamas, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear.
"The utmost priority for the president right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters hours before the two leaders meet for a private dinner.
Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the cooperation with the US for bringing a "huge victory over our shared enemy."
He struck a positive note on a ceasefire for Gaza, saying he was working "to achieve the deal under discussion, on the terms we agreed to".
The prime minister was scheduled to hold separate meetings on Monday with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the dinner with Trump.
Netanyahu is slated to meet Tuesday with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"I think that the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance that result, which all of us hope for," Netanyahu said.
Israel and Hamas appear to be inching toward a new ceasefire agreement that would bring about a 60-day pause in the fighting, send aid flooding into Gaza and free at least some of the remaining 50 hostages held in the territory, 20 of whom are believed to be living.
Leavitt announced on Monday that Witkoff will travel later this week to Doha, Qatar, for ceasefire and hostage talks.
But a perennial sticking point is whether the ceasefire will end the war altogether.
Hamas has said it is willing to free all the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu says the war will end once Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile — something it refuses to do.
Demonstrators, including hostage family members, gathered outside the US Capitol before the leaders' meeting to press for the release of all remaining hostages in any agreement.
"We cannot accept a deal for a partial release," said Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
"A partial deal would mean that some of the hostages will stay in the tunnels for more time and this would be a death sentence."
Trump has made it clear that he wants to be known as a peacemaker.
He has repeatedly trumpeted recent peace deals that his administration facilitated between India and Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and Israel and Iran, and for years has made little secret of the fact that he covets a Nobel Peace Prize.
He has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to wrap up their own conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, ravaged Gaza, deepened Israel's international isolation and made any resolution to the broader conflict between Israel and the Palestinians more distant than ever.
In the days before Netanyahu's visit, Trump seemed to downplay the chances for a breakthrough.
Asked on Friday how confident he was that a ceasefire deal would come together, Trump told reporters: "I'm very optimistic — but you know, look, it changes from day to day".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump might look to take a victory lap after their recent joint strikes on Iran but the Gaza war looms over their meeting.
As they meet at the White House for the third time this year, the outwardly triumphant visit will be dogged by Israel's 21-month war against Hamas in Gaza and questions over how hard Trump will push for an end to the conflict.
Trump has made clear that following last month's 12-day war between Israel and Iran, he would like to see the Gaza conflict end soon.
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to a US ceasefire proposal being discussed by Israel and Hamas, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear.
"The utmost priority for the president right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters hours before the two leaders meet for a private dinner.
Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the cooperation with the US for bringing a "huge victory over our shared enemy."
He struck a positive note on a ceasefire for Gaza, saying he was working "to achieve the deal under discussion, on the terms we agreed to".
The prime minister was scheduled to hold separate meetings on Monday with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the dinner with Trump.
Netanyahu is slated to meet Tuesday with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"I think that the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance that result, which all of us hope for," Netanyahu said.
Israel and Hamas appear to be inching toward a new ceasefire agreement that would bring about a 60-day pause in the fighting, send aid flooding into Gaza and free at least some of the remaining 50 hostages held in the territory, 20 of whom are believed to be living.
Leavitt announced on Monday that Witkoff will travel later this week to Doha, Qatar, for ceasefire and hostage talks.
But a perennial sticking point is whether the ceasefire will end the war altogether.
Hamas has said it is willing to free all the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu says the war will end once Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile — something it refuses to do.
Demonstrators, including hostage family members, gathered outside the US Capitol before the leaders' meeting to press for the release of all remaining hostages in any agreement.
"We cannot accept a deal for a partial release," said Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
"A partial deal would mean that some of the hostages will stay in the tunnels for more time and this would be a death sentence."
Trump has made it clear that he wants to be known as a peacemaker.
He has repeatedly trumpeted recent peace deals that his administration facilitated between India and Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and Israel and Iran, and for years has made little secret of the fact that he covets a Nobel Peace Prize.
He has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to wrap up their own conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, ravaged Gaza, deepened Israel's international isolation and made any resolution to the broader conflict between Israel and the Palestinians more distant than ever.
In the days before Netanyahu's visit, Trump seemed to downplay the chances for a breakthrough.
Asked on Friday how confident he was that a ceasefire deal would come together, Trump told reporters: "I'm very optimistic — but you know, look, it changes from day to day".
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"The window of opportunity to bring home all 50 hostages - living and dead - is open now, and it won't be for long," one speaker, Eli Sharabi, said at the central rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Sharabi was himself abducted during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, and held hostage for 16 months in Gaza. After his release in early February, he learned that his wife and two young daughters had been murdered during the attacks. The body of Sharabi's brother, Yossi, is still being held in Gaza. Addressing the Israeli government, Sharabi said: "You were elected to serve this people. With humility, with modesty. It is arrogance that brought disaster upon us - and we must not return to this pattern of behaviour". According to official Israeli figures, 50 people kidnapped from Israel are still being held in the Gaza Strip, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. 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Sharabi was himself abducted during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, and held hostage for 16 months in Gaza. After his release in early February, he learned that his wife and two young daughters had been murdered during the attacks. The body of Sharabi's brother, Yossi, is still being held in Gaza. Addressing the Israeli government, Sharabi said: "You were elected to serve this people. With humility, with modesty. It is arrogance that brought disaster upon us - and we must not return to this pattern of behaviour". According to official Israeli figures, 50 people kidnapped from Israel are still being held in the Gaza Strip, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel and Hamas are currently holding indirect talks in the Qatari capital Doha on a 60-day ceasefire, which would also lead to the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of several others. 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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was sure an agreement can be reached. "I've always said that in these cases, what you have to do is keep a cool head to face any problem," Sheinbaum said at an event in the Mexican state of Sonora. "(But) there's something that's never negotiable: the sovereignty of our country," she said. Trump sent similar letters to 23 other trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20 per cent up to 50 per cent, as well as a 50 per cent tariff on copper. The US president said the 30 per cent rate was "separate from all sectoral tariffs", indicating 50 per cent levies on steel and aluminium imports and a 25 per cent tariff on auto imports would remain. The August 1 deadline gives the targeted countries time to negotiate. Some investors and economists have also noted Trump's pattern of backing off his tariff threats. The spate of letters showed Trump has returned to the aggressive trade posture that he took in April when he announced a slew of reciprocal tariffs against trading partners that sent markets tumbling before the White House delayed implementation. But with the stock market recently hitting record highs and the US economy still resilient, Trump is showing no signs of slowing down his trade war. He promised to use the 90-day delay in April to strike dozens of new trade deals, but has only secured framework agreements with Britain, China and Vietnam. The EU has hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27-country bloc. Trump's letter to the EU included a demand that Europe drop its own tariffs. "The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit," he wrote. Von der Leyen said the 30 per cent tariffs "would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic". The EU "will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required", she said. Mexico's economy ministry said "it was unfair treatment". Mexico's proposed tariff level is lower than Canada's 35 per cent, with both letters citing fentanyl flows even though government data shows the amount of the drug seized at the Mexican border is significantly higher than the Canadian border. "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough. Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground," Trump wrote. Mexico sends more than 80 per cent of its total exported goods to the US and free trade with its northern neighbour drove Mexico to become the top US trading partner in 2023. The EU had initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement but more recently had scaled back its ambitions and shifted toward securing a broader framework deal similar to the one Britain brokered that leaves details to be negotiated. The bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on US terms. Bernd Lange, the head of the European Parliament's trade committee, said Brussels should enact countermeasures as soon as Monday. "This is a slap in the face for the negotiations. This is no way to deal with a key trading partner," Lange told Reuters. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 30 per cent tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting in August, after weeks of negotiations with the major US trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive trade deal. In an escalation of a trade war that has angered US allies and rattled investors, Trump announced the latest tariffs in separate letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Saturday. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was sure an agreement can be reached. "I've always said that in these cases, what you have to do is keep a cool head to face any problem," Sheinbaum said at an event in the Mexican state of Sonora. "(But) there's something that's never negotiable: the sovereignty of our country," she said. Trump sent similar letters to 23 other trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20 per cent up to 50 per cent, as well as a 50 per cent tariff on copper. The US president said the 30 per cent rate was "separate from all sectoral tariffs", indicating 50 per cent levies on steel and aluminium imports and a 25 per cent tariff on auto imports would remain. The August 1 deadline gives the targeted countries time to negotiate. Some investors and economists have also noted Trump's pattern of backing off his tariff threats. The spate of letters showed Trump has returned to the aggressive trade posture that he took in April when he announced a slew of reciprocal tariffs against trading partners that sent markets tumbling before the White House delayed implementation. But with the stock market recently hitting record highs and the US economy still resilient, Trump is showing no signs of slowing down his trade war. He promised to use the 90-day delay in April to strike dozens of new trade deals, but has only secured framework agreements with Britain, China and Vietnam. The EU has hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27-country bloc. Trump's letter to the EU included a demand that Europe drop its own tariffs. "The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit," he wrote. Von der Leyen said the 30 per cent tariffs "would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic". The EU "will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required", she said. Mexico's economy ministry said "it was unfair treatment". Mexico's proposed tariff level is lower than Canada's 35 per cent, with both letters citing fentanyl flows even though government data shows the amount of the drug seized at the Mexican border is significantly higher than the Canadian border. "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough. Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground," Trump wrote. Mexico sends more than 80 per cent of its total exported goods to the US and free trade with its northern neighbour drove Mexico to become the top US trading partner in 2023. The EU had initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement but more recently had scaled back its ambitions and shifted toward securing a broader framework deal similar to the one Britain brokered that leaves details to be negotiated. The bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on US terms. Bernd Lange, the head of the European Parliament's trade committee, said Brussels should enact countermeasures as soon as Monday. "This is a slap in the face for the negotiations. This is no way to deal with a key trading partner," Lange told Reuters. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 30 per cent tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting in August, after weeks of negotiations with the major US trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive trade deal. In an escalation of a trade war that has angered US allies and rattled investors, Trump announced the latest tariffs in separate letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Saturday. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was sure an agreement can be reached. "I've always said that in these cases, what you have to do is keep a cool head to face any problem," Sheinbaum said at an event in the Mexican state of Sonora. "(But) there's something that's never negotiable: the sovereignty of our country," she said. Trump sent similar letters to 23 other trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20 per cent up to 50 per cent, as well as a 50 per cent tariff on copper. The US president said the 30 per cent rate was "separate from all sectoral tariffs", indicating 50 per cent levies on steel and aluminium imports and a 25 per cent tariff on auto imports would remain. The August 1 deadline gives the targeted countries time to negotiate. Some investors and economists have also noted Trump's pattern of backing off his tariff threats. The spate of letters showed Trump has returned to the aggressive trade posture that he took in April when he announced a slew of reciprocal tariffs against trading partners that sent markets tumbling before the White House delayed implementation. But with the stock market recently hitting record highs and the US economy still resilient, Trump is showing no signs of slowing down his trade war. He promised to use the 90-day delay in April to strike dozens of new trade deals, but has only secured framework agreements with Britain, China and Vietnam. The EU has hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27-country bloc. Trump's letter to the EU included a demand that Europe drop its own tariffs. "The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit," he wrote. Von der Leyen said the 30 per cent tariffs "would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic". The EU "will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required", she said. Mexico's economy ministry said "it was unfair treatment". Mexico's proposed tariff level is lower than Canada's 35 per cent, with both letters citing fentanyl flows even though government data shows the amount of the drug seized at the Mexican border is significantly higher than the Canadian border. "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough. Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground," Trump wrote. Mexico sends more than 80 per cent of its total exported goods to the US and free trade with its northern neighbour drove Mexico to become the top US trading partner in 2023. The EU had initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement but more recently had scaled back its ambitions and shifted toward securing a broader framework deal similar to the one Britain brokered that leaves details to be negotiated. The bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on US terms. Bernd Lange, the head of the European Parliament's trade committee, said Brussels should enact countermeasures as soon as Monday. "This is a slap in the face for the negotiations. This is no way to deal with a key trading partner," Lange told Reuters.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Trump intensifies trade war with threat of 30 per cent tariffs on EU, Mexico
Washington/Mexico City: US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 30 per cent tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1, after weeks of negotiations with the major US trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive trade deal. In an escalation of a trade war that has angered US allies and rattled investors, Trump announced the latest tariffs in separate letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that were posted on his Truth Social media site on Saturday. The EU and Mexico, both among the largest US trading partners, responded by calling the tariffs unfair and disruptive while pledging to continue to negotiate with the US for a broader trade deal before the deadline. Sheinbaum said she was sure an agreement could be reached. 'I've always said that in these cases, what you have to do is keep a cool head to face any problem,' Sheinbaum said at an event in the Mexican state of Sonora. 'We're also clear on what we can work with the United States government on, and we're clear on what we can't. And there's something that's never negotiable: the sovereignty of our country.' Loading Trump sent similar letters to 23 other trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20 per cent up to 50 per cent, as well as a 50 per cent tariff on copper. The US president said the 30 per cent rate was 'separate from all sectoral tariffs', indicating 50 per cent levies on steel and aluminium imports and a 25 per cent tariff on auto imports would remain.
