Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to meet with Trump in the U.S. capital as the president announced taxes in multiple countries in a “Liberation Day” announcement on Wednesday.
Netanyahu’s main goal is to arrive in Washington from a visit to Hungary, which will convince Trump to reverse the decision or at least reduce the 17% tax that will be imposed before Israeli imports.
Netanyahu said leaving Butapest said his discussion would include a range of issues, including “the tariff regime also imposed on Israel.”
“I am the first international leader, the first foreign leader to meet with President Trump on things that are crucial to the Israeli economy,” he said in a statement.
“I believe this reflects the special personal relationship and unique bond between the United States and Israel, which is crucial at this time.”
Analysts say Netanyahu will seek to exempt Israeli tariffs.
“It makes sense to stop it before institutionalization,” said Jonathan Rynhold, president of political studies at Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv.
He said the exemption would not only benefit Trump’s closest Middle East allies, but would also benefit: “Ask Republicans in Congress, whose voters care about Israel and are reluctant to face Trump at this time.”
Israel has tried to avoid new taxes by taking preemptive actions the day before Trump announced the news and to raise the remaining duties of all U.S. goods still affected.
But Trump continues to implement his new policy, saying that Israel, the biggest beneficiary of U.S. military aid, has created a severe trade deficit.
Gaza truce, hostages
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Yannay Spitzer, professor of economics at Hebrew University, said the Israeli leader’s trip to the United States was “a way Netanyahu plays the game and shows it to Trump.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if some sort of concession to Israel was announced… This would be an example of other countries.”
Netanyahu will also discuss the war in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli hostages still occupying Palestinian territory and the growing “threat of Iran” in his office.
Israel resumed air strikes in Gaza on March 18, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire, ending with Hamas facilitated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
According to Hamas’s Ministry of Health, which controls territory, efforts to resume the armistice have failed, with more than 1,330 people killed in Israel’s air and ground operations.
Palestinian militants there still hold 58 hostages, including 34 of which the Israeli military said were dead.
In Iran, Trump has been in “direct negotiations” with Tehran to curb the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the idea of direct negotiations with the United States on Sunday because it was “meaningless.”
There is widespread speculation that if no agreement is reached, Israel may, with our help, attack Iran’s facilities.
