Trump and Netanyahu met at the White House; they discussed tariffs, Iran, and the Gaza hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump met in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. The two leaders discussed tariffs, Iran, and the situation in Gaza, where Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, 2025, after a two-month truce with Hamas.
On Monday, April 7, 2025, a new meeting took place between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.
The tariffs imposed by the US president and the war in Gaza were central to the talks, which also raised Israeli concerns about Iran and Türkiye and their influence in the region.
Under global trade pressure imposed by the White House, Israel suffered a 17% tariff increase. Negotiating this situation is central to Netanyahu's visit to Washington, where he met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Sunday.
"Warm, cordial, and productive" were the terms used to describe the meeting, which also included Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative to Israel. Following Trump's announcements about increasing tariffs on international imports, the Israeli government reacted discreetly and cautiously.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich even spoke of seeking dialogue to reach an understanding with the United States.
Netanyahu promises Trump he will eliminate tariffs on the United States
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the White House on Monday that he has promised U.S. President Donald Trump that his country will "eliminate tariffs" and "a variety of trade barriers" on American imports.
"I very much appreciate what you said about the tariffs," Trump responded to Netanyahu during a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House, without adding whether in exchange for what he promised, he would withdraw the 17% tariff he announced last week that he would impose on Israel, one of the United States' main partners.
"We may not (eliminate tariffs on Israeli products). Don't forget that we help Israel a lot. We give them $4 billion a year," he responded when asked directly about that possibility.
"I can tell you what I told the president of the United States: 'We are going to eliminate the trade deficit with the United States,'" Netanyahu said earlier, adding that his government would eliminate tariffs and the "various trade barriers that have been unnecessarily imposed," and that it would all be done "quickly."
Israel as a model for many countries around the world
The Israeli prime minister stated that his country "can serve as a model for many countries that should do the same" by eliminating trade barriers to products from the United States, a position he shared. "We're not talking about intentions. We're not just talking about words. We're talking about results," said Netanyahu, who described himself as a "free trade advocate" who believes that "free trade must be fair."
After US President Donald Trump announced global tariffs of 10% and higher rates for other regions and countries such as China and the European Union (EU) last Wednesday, markets reacted with sharp losses, and many leaders harshly criticized his trade war. Trump has expressed openness to negotiating his aggressive tariff package, the largest in nearly a century, but has yet to publicly announce that he will exempt any country from customs duties, including those, like Israel, that have announced they will withdraw all their tariffs on the United States.
In his appearance with Netanyahu, Trump said he is not considering a pause on tariffs and reiterated the importance he also places on "non-monetary tariffs," which he included in the list of EU regulations, and the currency depreciation he attributed to countries like Japan and South Korea.
War in Gaza
The return of the hostages still held by Hamas is another of Israel's major concerns, and it has attempted to engage in dialogue with Donald Trump. Under the Republican's leadership, through his special envoy Steve Witkoff, a first phase of truce was reached, during which dozens of captives were returned by the Palestinian group. However, with the resumption of Israeli bombing and despite proposals from mediators to make the second phase of the planned truce viable, the possibility of a ceasefire now seems remote, and with it the return of the ten hostages.
At the February 4, 2025, meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, the Republican floated the idea of expelling Gazans from the enclave and administering the Gaza Strip, a proposal that was widely criticized by the international community.
Trump and Netanyahu insist on their plans for Gaza
Although the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dominated by the fallout from Washington's new tariff policy, the 18-month war in Gaza and the fate of the Israeli hostages still being held in the Palestinian enclave were also among the questions Trump and Netanyahu answered before the press.
Trump said he wanted the war in Gaza to end and claimed that efforts were underway to free hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, but that securing their release was "a long process." He also emphasized the idea of promoting a real estate project in Palestinian territory once the war is over.
"What I think about the Gaza Strip is that it's an incredibly important territory. And I think it's something we should be involved in. Having a peacekeeping force like the United States' there, controlling and taking ownership of the Gaza Strip, would be positive." Trump called it a "Freedom Zone" and claimed that "no one would be killed."
Iran, a shared concern
Earlier this month, the United States increased its military presence, deploying additional warplanes to bolster the Pentagon's naval units in the Middle East, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement Tuesday.
Tensions with Tehran have increased, and Washington has also intensified its bombing campaign in Yemen. The Iranian regime, in turn, is Israel's main enemy in the region, having sponsored radical groups in neighboring countries, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Türkiye is another factor worrying the Israeli administration. Istanbul has been accused of trying to influence the new Syrian government. Israel has launched attacks against Damascus and warned of retaliation if national security is compromised.
The US president also announced that his country and Iran are in direct talks regarding Tehran's nuclear program. Tehran subsequently confirmed a high-level meeting with Washington in Oman on April 12, but clarified that this is an indirect dialogue.