Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will no longer travel to the United States next week, his office announced on Thursday, citing the postponement of the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham as the reason for the change in plans.
Graham, who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003, was one of the Republican Party’s most influential figures. He was widely recognized for his hawkish positions on foreign policy and defense, as well as his close political alliance with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Planned Trump Meeting Put on Hold
A senior Israeli official had told Reuters on Wednesday that Netanyahu was expected to depart for the United States on Saturday, with hopes of holding talks with President Trump. However, it remained uncertain at the time whether the meeting would ultimately take place.
According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu’s office had been working to arrange a meeting with Trump following their last face-to-face discussions on February 11 at the White House Situation Room.
Diplomatic Efforts Continue
Reports indicate that one of Netanyahu’s main objectives was to strengthen ties with the U.S. administration following the recent conflict with Iran. Israeli officials have reportedly sought to rebuild confidence after comments from figures close to President Trump suggested that some of Netanyahu’s assessments during the crisis had been inaccurate.
The cancellation of the trip postpones what was expected to be another high-level round of consultations between the two leaders as regional security and bilateral relations remain at the forefront of the diplomatic agenda.
