Will Netanyahu meet Syria’s Sharaa in New York?

The central obstacle between the two sides remains Syria’s demand that Israel return the Golan Heights, seized in 1967 and annexed in 1981. Israel flatly rejects doing so. The current proposal under discussion would grant Sharaa international legitimacy and desperately needed aid as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from strategic locations occupied along the border after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government last December. 

Netanyahu's Washington visit — What happened and what didn’t

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press conference in Jerusalem on May 21, 2025. Netanyahu said on May 21 that he was ready for a "temporary ceasefire" to guarantee the return of hostages held in Gaza, of whom 20 are "certainly" alive. — RONEN ZVULUN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

• What Netanyahu wanted

The Israeli prime minister had requested a White House meeting shortly after US forces struck Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz. It was meant to be a joint celebration, a photo op marking the successful blow to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

By the time Netanyahu departed for Washington, however, Israeli attention had turned elsewhere. A sense of momentum was building around a possible ceasefire deal with Hamas that might include the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Even Trump acknowledged that negotiations were advancing in ways they had not before. Netanyahu, just before departing Israel, sent his negotiating team to Doha, raising hopes among hostage families for a breakthrough announcement during a White House dinner on Monday.

Netanyahu’s wish list for the dinner surely included several items: announcements on a Gaza deal as well as on a Syria deal; Trump giving Israel a green light to strike Iran again, if deemed necessary; and perhaps even concrete steps toward expanding the 2020 Abraham Accords. 

• Hope for an Iran green light

​​​​​​​Netanyahu must have been disappointed with the absence of sensational announcements during the Monday dinner. More revealing, however, was the subtle gap it exposed between the two leaders' priorities. While Trump emphasized the need to end the war in Gaza, Netanyahu remained focused on Iran. Still, in some ways, Netanyahu got part of what he came for. In response to reporters’ questions, Trump said he supported renewed nuclear negotiations with Iran, but added, “If necessary, we will consider attacking Iran again.”

• What Trump aimed for

​​​​​​​For Trump, Netanyahu's visit was another opportunity to press Israel to make advances on a Gaza deal. As Al-Monitor’s Elizabeth Hagedorn noted, several key issues remain unresolved in the negotiations with Hamas. Unlike the previous ceasefire arrangement, the current proposal places greater emphasis on Trump’s role in driving the process forward.

The challenge, however, is that the United States cannot guarantee outcomes with respect to either side. Ghaith al-Omari, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Al-Monitor, “They [the Trump administration] will not push the Israelis beyond what the Israelis are willing to accept.” Omari also said he did not see it as politically viable for Netanyahu to come and say the war is over. He further added, “I don't see it also as politically viable for Hamas to come and say, ‘We’re going to raise the white flag, disarm and get out of Gaza.’”

• Hegseth thrilled

​​​​​​​Less complicated for Netanyahu was his meeting Wednesday at the Pentagon with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The two appeared in sync, praising the capabilities of the US military. During the meeting, Hegseth revealed that stealth-capable F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft had taken part in the June 22 strike on Iranian nuclear sites. Until the meeting, Pentagon officials had been reluctant to publicly confirm which aircraft had escorted the B-2 bombers to their targets.

• Leaving empty-handed?

​​​​​​​Despite high expectations, Netanyahu’s visit to Washington concluded without any breakthrough agreements — no Gaza ceasefire deal, no concrete decision on the Iranian nuclear file, and no progress revealed on talks with Syria. Ynet reported on Thursday, however, that Israel has agreed to allow Qatar and other donor countries to begin transferring reconstruction funds to Gaza once a proposed 60-day ceasefire takes effect, enabling reconstruction to start immediately. 

This arrangement removes a hurdle in the way of a ceasefire deal. Hamas had demanded that reconstruction begin as soon as a ceasefire is in place, while Israel had insisted that funding come not only from Qatar but from a broader group of international donors. 

While in Washington at a meeting with families of Israeli hostages, Netanyahu said he was optimistic about reaching an agreement with Hamas but cautioned that the two sides are not there yet. “The deal could happen soon. I’m working on it,” he said, “You must be patient.”