Netanyahu's influence over Trump wanes as US-Iran talks progress
Fear is growing in Israel that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is incapable of shaping the nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.
TEL AVIV — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have resigned himself to the growing likelihood of a US-Iran nuclear deal. The ongoing Iran-US talks, heading for a third round on Saturday in Oman, can be expected to feature in a planned phone call between Netanyahu and President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Walla News reported Monday that Trump intends to take another stab at stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas on an end to the war in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is scheduled to discuss the Gaza stalemate on Tuesday in Washington with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.
There is little Netanyahu and his aides can do to prepare for Trump’s unpredictable and volatile temperament, as the Israeli premier learned earlier this month in the Oval Office when his host announced the upcoming direct talks with Iran.
Unintended consequences
