US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth held an unannounced meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, with details of their discussion undisclosed.
01Summary
- 01The meeting occurred on Monday during Hegseth's undisclosed visit to Israel, Axios reported, citing two sources.
- 02President Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Truth Social for next week's parliamentary election, the first since the 7 October 2023 attacks and the Gaza war.
- 03Opinion polls suggest Netanyahu's coalition may lose its governing majority, though a viable opposition government remains uncertain.
- 04US Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu, saying he focuses on American midterms and does not involve himself in Israeli elections.
- 05The Pentagon and Israel's embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment on the meeting.
02Why it matters
This under-the-radar meeting between a key Trump ally and Netanyahu, days before a tight Israeli election, signals ongoing US strategic alignment with Israel amid the Gaza conflict and tensions with Iran.
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