Netanyahu to meet Trump at White House to discuss new tariffs imposed on Israel: media

IANS April 5, 2025 368 views

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss critical international issues. The meeting comes amid complex diplomatic challenges, including newly imposed US tariffs on Israeli goods and an ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu. Trump and Netanyahu are expected to address trade tensions, the Iran nuclear crisis, and ongoing conflicts in Gaza. The diplomatic encounter is also complicated by legal proceedings in Israel and international legal scrutiny.

"The ICC's move discredited the institution" - Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian Foreign Minister
Netanyahu to meet Trump at White House to discuss new tariffs imposed on Israel: media
Jerusalem, April 5: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Saturday.

Key Points

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Netanyahu's White House visit contingent on court approval for trial postponement

2

Diplomatic meeting covers trade tariffs and geopolitical tensions

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ICC arrest warrant complicates international diplomatic interactions

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US-Israel relations under scrutiny amid ongoing challenges

Citing an Israeli source, the channel stated that the two leaders are expected to discuss the 17 per cent tariff the United States imposed on Israeli goods as part of Trump's so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners.

Israeli news website Walla reported that Netanyahu plans to depart for the United States directly from Budapest on Sunday, following his current visit to Hungary.

The White House visit, however, depends on an Israeli court granting permission to postpone the upcoming hearings in his corruption trial, according to Walla, Xinhua news agency reported.

The day before Trump's announcement, Israel had lifted all tariffs on imports from the United States, but this step did not prevent Trump from imposing tariffs on Israel.

In addition to the tariff issue, the two leaders are expected to discuss the nuclear crisis with Iran and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Netanyahu's Hungary visit takes place amid international scrutiny over an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC issued the warrants last November against Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of committing "crimes against humanity and war crimes" in Gaza. Hungary is the first European country to host Netanyahu since the ICC issued the arrest warrant.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reiterated earlier this year that Hungary continues to welcome the Israeli leader despite the warrant.

He also said the ICC's move "discredited the institution" and confirmed it as "a politically motivated body," adding that such decisions would affect Hungary's future cooperation with the court.

Hungary has consistently backed Israel in the European Union fora and expressed strong support for its right to self-defence.

Reader Comments

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Michael T.
Interesting timing for this meeting with the ICC warrant still looming. I hope they can find some common ground on the tariff issue - 17% is pretty steep! 🤔
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Sarah K.
Hungary's support for Netanyahu despite the ICC warrant is concerning. International law should apply equally to all leaders. That said, the economic discussions are important for both countries.
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David P.
The tariffs seem counterproductive when Israel just removed all tariffs on US imports. Hope they can work this out - trade wars never benefit ordinary citizens in the long run.
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Aisha R.
While I disagree with many of Netanyahu's policies, the Iran nuclear issue is something that requires international cooperation. Hope the meeting produces constructive dialogue at least on that front.
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Josh L.
The optics of this meeting are terrible with the ICC warrant. But I guess business and politics go on regardless... 😕
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Ethan C.
Respectfully, I think the article could have provided more context about why these specific tariffs were imposed. The "reciprocal tariffs" policy affects many countries - what makes Israel's case unique?
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Rachel M.
Hungary's stance is disappointing but not surprising. The ICC exists for a reason - to hold leaders accountable. Meanwhile, regular people in Gaza and Israel continue to suffer while these political games play out.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Netanyahu Trump White House Meeting US-Israel Relations ICC Arrest Warrant Trade Tariffs Gaza Conflict Iran Nuclear Crisis
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