Netanyahu to fly to Washington Monday at Trump's invitation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Washington on Monday for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, following an invitation from the White House. The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the meeting, which comes amid significant regional instability, particularly the ongoing Iran war. This trip will be Netanyahu's first official visit to the US capital since the conflict began.

In addition to his meeting with President Trump, Netanyahu is scheduled to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. The Prime Minister's Office referred to Graham as a "friend of Israel" in their statement. The statement also noted that journalists would not be permitted to travel with the prime minister on his official aircraft, "Wing of Zion," though independent journalists can register to potentially join.

Netanyahu had previously postponed his trip to Washington after the senator's funeral date was rescheduled. The visit occurs at a critical juncture, with the United States having renewed strikes on Iran two weeks prior, leading to severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has retaliated by targeting US assets in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, escalating regional tensions.

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a friend of Israel.