US President Donald Trump has indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could visit the White House as early as next week, marking their first meeting since the US-Israeli war against Iran began.

In an interview with Axios, Trump said Netanyahu requested the meeting, which might take place after Trump returns from the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.

The potential visit comes amid public friction between the two leaders. Israel has opposed Trump administration efforts to negotiate a ceasefire with Iran, while Trump has criticized Netanyahu for continued attacks on Lebanon.

Trump downplayed any rift, stating, “We get along very good. [Netanyahu] knows who the boss is.” The US and Israel have been long-standing allies, with the US pledging $38 billion in military aid to Israel.

Under Trump’s second term, the US joined Israel in two wars against Iran. The latest conflict was widely condemned as unprovoked aggression, and Trump faced domestic backlash for deploying troops without congressional approval.

A Quinnipiac University poll found 60% of US voters believe the war against Iran was “not worth it,” and 48% said the US is too supportive of Israel.

The Trump administration defends its involvement as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies.

On June 17, the US and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding to suspend hostilities, but implementation has been uneven. Trump has expressed frustration with Israeli strikes on Lebanon, reportedly calling Netanyahu “f***ing crazy.”

If Netanyahu visits, it would be his seventh trip to the US under Trump’s second term. Netanyahu and his former defense minister remain subject to International Criminal Court arrest warrants.

Source: www.aljazeera.com