Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu begins his US visit; Protesters for hostage deal demonstrate against him in Washington

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in Washington overnight (Monday), beginning his visit to the United States. He is scheduled to meet this evening with U.S. President Donald Trump. Upon arrival, Netanyahu met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamison Greer.

Trump told reporters last night that he would speak with Netanyahu about tariffs, as well as "the obvious issue." He said, “We had no problems with the Middle East, we had no problems with Iran, we had no problems with anyone,” adding, “and then came October 7.”

Trump hinted that during his previous term, everything in the Middle East was fine because Iran lacked funding – and after he left the White House, things deteriorated. The president has made similar statements in the past.

Around 50 Israelis and American Jews protested outside Blair House in Washington upon Netanyahu’s arrival. The demonstrators chanted “Shame” and called on Trump, who is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu tomorrow, “not to fall into his trap,” and to demand that Netanyahu honor the hostage return agreement.

This is Netanyahu’s fourth visit to the U.S. during the war. According to a report by the U.S. news site Axios, Netanyahu’s office coordinated with the White House for the meeting to take place immediately following his visit to Hungary. The two are expected to discuss the 17% tariffs Trump has imposed on Israel.

The prime minister’s visit comes against the backdrop of enhanced U.S. air defense support for Israel, including the deployment of an additional THAAD battery, due to fears of an Iranian attack following increased U.S. pressure on Iran regarding the nuclear issue. Trump has set a deadline for Iran, deployed U.S. bombers to the Indian Ocean, and brought dozens of fighter jets to the region –
actions that may provoke Iran to launch an attack on Israel.

A senior political source added, “It was the White House that requested the meeting on Monday. The Prime Minister’s office actually proposed holding it during the Passover intermediate days. The meeting will focus on tariffs but also address Gaza, the hostages, and Iran.”

According to the source, many leaders have sought meetings with Trump to discuss the tariff issue, and Netanyahu’s is the first to be scheduled – a testament to the connection between the two leaders.

According to the report, Netanyahu is expected to request the postponement of his court hearings next week. As a result of Netanyahu’s visit, Defense Minister Israel Katz postponed his own planned trip to the U.S., which was also supposed to take place this week.

A senior political figure in the prime minister’s entourage told reporters yesterday that the issue of tariffs on Israeli exports was raised in a phone call between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Netanyahu, and Trump. During the call, Trump invited Netanyahu to the White House to “talk.”

Regarding the tariff issue, the senior source expressed some consolation in the fact that the tariff rate imposed on Israel is lower than that imposed on Europe (20%), but added that a formal discussion on the matter would begin with the White House.

Trump announced last week that he would impose a 17% tariff on goods imported from Israel. The Trump administration claimed that, when considering factors such as currency manipulation and trade barriers, the effective tariff rate Israel imposes on the U.S. is around 33%.

Trump’s decision means that imports from Israel to the U.S. will be subject to a 17% tax, potentially leading to a decline in Israel’s export volume to the American market.

The Manufacturers Association of Israel expressed concern over Trump’s decision: “The industry is deeply concerned by the decision. This is a troubling step for Israeli exporters, which may hurt jobs and reduce activity in the U.S. market. The president’s decision could harm Israel’s economic stability, deter foreign investment, and weaken the competitiveness of Israeli companies in the American market.”

Written by KAN 11 News correspondents Gili Cohen and Natan Gutman.