According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on July 3, the two leaders spoke by phone and confirmed their plans to meet. The statement noted, "Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed that the U.S. is a bastion of global freedom and that Israel highly values the close relationship between the two countries."
Netanyahu also conveyed a congratulatory message in light of the 250th anniversary of American independence, the statement added.
The U.S. and Israel have maintained cooperation, including a joint airstrike against Iran on February 28, aimed at neutralizing Iran's nuclear weapons development program.
However, tensions have surfaced between the two leaders regarding strategies to end the war with Iran. Trump has publicly criticized Netanyahu in recent weeks, particularly as Israel continues military operations against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which has complicated Trump's efforts to negotiate a ceasefire with Iran.
With the midterm elections approaching in November, rising inflation and fatigue over the prolonged conflict have prompted Trump to advocate for a swift resolution. In contrast, Israel escalated tensions by launching airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon earlier last month, disrupting the negotiation atmosphere.
During that time, Trump reportedly called Netanyahu, expressing frustration and saying, "What the hell are you doing?" and described the situation as "crazy" and "ungrateful."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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