During tonight’s meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, Trump admonished Israel’s decision to give up Gaza — echoing a view the Rebbe had long warned about, that giving away land would bring no peace — saying they handed over land they owned for nothing but empty promises.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump on Monday evening. The American president received Netanyahu warmly upon his arrival at the White House.
The two were expected to discuss the hostage deal, Iran, and the tariffs imposed last week on Israeli imports. Netanyahu arrived in the US directly from his state visit to Hungary – during which he spoke with the US president.
Before the meeting, the two leaders spoke to the press in the Oval Office. “I want to thank you for inviting me again to the White House. You’ve been a remarkable friend to the State of Israel. You stand by us, you are a great champion of our alliance. You actually do things that you say you would, and people respect that enormously,” Netanyahu told Trump.
Regarding the meeting, Netanyahu summed up: “We had the opportunity to talk about many subjects. First if I can mention tariffs. I said to the President a very simple thing: We will eliminate the trade deficit with the US. We intend to do it very quickly, we think it’s the right thing to do and we’re going to also eliminate trade barriers. I think Israel can serve as a model for countries that ought to do the same.” Netanyahu noted that he recognizes the US’s position on imposing tariffs on countries that have tariffs on US imports.
Netanyahu also noted that he and the President discussed the hostages as well as the elimination of Hamas in Gaza and enabling the people of Gaza to leave.
He added that they discussed the situation in Syria as well as the deteriorating relations with Turkey. “We don’t want to see Syria being used by anyone, including Turkey, as a base for attacking Israel.”
Regarding Iran, Netanyahu stated: “We are both united in the goal that Iran does not ever get nuclear weapons. If it can be done diplomatically, the full way, as it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing.”
On Netanyahu’s last point, President Trump revealed, “We are having direct talks with Iran. On Saturday we will have a very big meeting and we will see what can happen. i think everybody agrees that a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious, and the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or frankly that anyone here wants to be involved with.” He noted that the situation is “getting to be very dangerous territory. Hopefully, those talks will be successful, and I think it would be in Iran’s best interests if they are.”
Regarding Netanyahu’s announcement on the trade deficit, Trump thanked the Prime Minister and explained: “We’ve been ripped off and taken advantage of by many countries over the years, and we just can’t do it anymore.”
Asked about the end of the war and hostage deal, the President answered: “I want to see the end of the war. Right now, we have a problem with the hostages, we’re trying to get the hostages out. We got quite a few out, but it’s a long process. It shouldn’t be that long, but we have a big problem.”
Trump mentioned the US offensive against the Houthis in Yemen: “We’ve really hit them hard, and they don’t know what to do. We’ve gotten many of their leaders, their experts on missiles.”
He then turned the floor over to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who commented: “It’s been a bad couple of weeks for the Houthis, and it’s about to get worse. It’s been a devastating campaign. Whether it’s been underground facilities, weapons manufacturing, bunkers, troops in the open, air defense assets – we are not going to relent.”
Hegseth added: “We are going to be very clear about the Iranians as well – they should not continue to provide support to the Houthis, and that message has been made clear.”
Returning to Iran, Trump noted that the direct talks are being held at a “very high level.”
Asked about the best way to get the hostages out, Trump answered: “We’re trying to get the hostages out. We’re looking at another ceasefire, we’ll see what happens. The Israeli people want the hostages out more than anything. This man (Netanyahu) is working very hard to do that. I hope he’s being appreciated. Because he’s been a great leader. He’s working very hard on the hostages and many other things. And there are other things you have to work on, it’s a tough place in the world.”
Asked if he believes military action is the right way to pressure Hamas into a deal, Trump answered: “You know how I feel about the Gaza Strip; I think it’s an incredible piece of important real estate. I think it’s something that if we would be involved in, having a peace force like the US there controlling and owning the Gaza Strip would be a good thing. All I hear from there is killing and problems and if you take the Palestinians and move them around to different countries, and you’ve got plenty of countries that will do that you really have the ‘freedom zone.’ That’s a hell of a place. I call it a great location that nobody wants to live in because they really don’t.”
He added: “I’ve said it, I don’t understand why Israel ever gave it up. Israel owned it. Netanyahu would have never given it up. They took ocean-front property and gave it away for peace – how did that work out? Not good.”
Trump asked Netanyahu to explain the relocation plan: “I think what to President talked about was to give people a choice. Gazans were closed in. In any other place, including war zones like Ukraine or Syria, people could leave. Gaza was the only place where they locked them in. We didn’t lock them in, they’re locked in. What is wrong with giving people a choice?” He noted that there are countries that are willing to take in Gazans who want to leave.
Trump added: “People really love that vision. It’s a long-term vision, but it’s so important for that area to be safe. You’re smack in the middle of the Middle East, right in the middle of Israel. It should never have been given away. I don’t know why they did it. I do know why; they were promised peace, but that didn’t work out too well because it’s one of the most dangerous pieces of land anywhere in the world.”
Before Netanyahu arrived at the White House, Trump spoke with Egyptian President el-Sisi, French President Macron, and Jordanian King Abdullah. The four discussed ways to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
Earlier, Netanyahu met with Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Upon his arrival in Washington and the start of his visit to the United States, the Prime Minister met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
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