A senior diplomatic official briefed reporters in the United States today (Wednesday), summarizing the meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump. The official clarified that the atmosphere was excellent, describing it as akin to that of “a married couple who have known each other for many years,” characterized by direct, candid conversation seasoned with humor.
The official firmly rejected rumors regarding difficulties in coordinating the meeting, stating that “reports claiming the Prime Minister had to beg for the visit are simply a fabrication. Period. There were no preconditions for the visit.” According to the official, the bulk of the meeting was devoted to the Iranian issue, featuring genuine consultation and an exchange of ideas regarding the three options facing the President: a deal, continued blockade, or the renewal and escalation of military action.
The official emphasized that the Iranian regime today is far weaker than in the past, fears economic collapse in light of inflation approaching 100%, and shows signs of deterrence against a direct strike on Israel. Referring specifically to the facility at “Har HaMachosh” [Fordo], the official noted that “there are centrifuges there, but no enrichment is taking place,” adding that Israel has a solid grasp regarding the enriched material at various levels.
During the meeting, Netanyahu presented President Trump with a map of Syria, demonstrating that the IDF holds a tiny percentage of the territory compared to the Turkish presence, yet within that same area it holds back Iran, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda. Netanyahu clarified that Israel will remain there as long as the threat persists. Additionally, the issue of relations with Erdogan was raised, with the Prime Minister clarifying to Trump that the Turkish president aims to revive the Ottoman Empire and speaks openly about the destruction of Israel.
On the subject of defense assistance, the Prime Minister presented a new strategic line aimed at achieving armament and financial independence: “The intention is to reduce defense aid to Israel to zero and transition to a model of partnership and joint projects funded fifty-fifty.” The process is expected to take about ten years, with the goal of ending reliance on the favors of Congress and achieving independence in aircraft as well.
The diplomatic official revealed disturbing details regarding Iranian threats, noting that Tehran is speaking about the physical elimination of the Prime Minister and other senior officials. In this context, it was revealed that the Americans located a cell in Miami acting on behalf of Iran that planned to assassinate Yair Netanyahu, which was the reason for his departure from the area. Additionally, President Trump expressed outrage over the continuation of Netanyahu’s trial in Israel. Regarding the domestic arena, the official addressed the Likud campaign video about Eizenkot, noting that the Prime Minister believes bereavement should not be used in a campaign, but fiercely criticized the media, which he said is not equally outraged by calls for the murder of the Prime Minister and his family.
On the international front, the official noted a high correlation between the activity of Qatar, China, and Russia on social media and the decline in support for Israel and the United States, through manipulations designed to harm the Israeli-American axis. Despite this, it was stressed that Israel has many friends, particularly among right-wing governments worldwide as well as in Arab countries maintaining close ties behind the scenes.
Regarding Judea and Samaria, it was reported that operational plans are ready for aggressive action in additional refugee camps, though a decision on their implementation has not yet been made. In conclusion, the official noted that the level of coordination between the IDF and the U.S. military is unprecedented: “There has been no war, since World War II, with such coordination between militaries.”