Florida [US], December 29 (ANI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, ahead of his scheduled discussions with Trump. The meeting is part of Netanyahu’s ongoing diplomatic outreach to the US administration.
A video released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office showed Netanyahu and Rubio greeting each other with a handshake, with US and Israeli flags in the background, underscoring the formal diplomatic engagement. Following the meeting, Netanyahu described the discussion as positive in a social media post.
The talks are expected to focus on recent developments related to a peace plan introduced in October to end the conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu aims to secure a firmer US stance on Hamas and raise concerns about Iran’s advancing ballistic missile programme. The meeting comes amid a fragile Gaza ceasefire, ongoing Israeli military operations, and slow progress on the agreement’s second phase, which includes Hamas’ disarmament, reconstruction efforts, and the establishment of post-war governance in Gaza.
The engagement highlights the complex US-Israel dynamic. While Trump has shown public support for Netanyahu, including calls for a pardon amid corruption investigations, differences exist over regional diplomacy, including Syria, Lebanon, and recent Israeli operations in Qatar. Despite these tensions, both sides continue to coordinate on advancing peace initiatives and regional security.
The Mar-a-Lago discussions mark the second consecutive day Trump has hosted a foreign leader during his holiday stay, following a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.
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