President Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, the Israeli prime minister's office said.
"At President Trump's invitation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will depart for Washington on Monday for an official visit," the Israeli prime minister's office said. "As part of the visit, the prime minister will meet with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday and will attend the funeral service for Senator Lindsey Graham."
Graham's communications director said last week that the late senator's "life and legacy" will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 28, in Washington, D.C., and on Wednesday, July 29, in Columbia and Pickens County, South Carolina.
Netanyahu wrote on X that Graham was a "dear friend," saying, "In our recent meeting, I said, 'Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine. We have no better friend than Lindsey.' Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world." He added, "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend."
Trump is considering resuming major combat operations in Iran that would likely include a joint military campaign with Israel similar to the launch of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, and a meeting with Netanyahu could be significant for Trump's decision-making and for coordination between the countries. The U.S. and Israel jointly launched Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion against Iran on Feb. 28.
Over the last 13 days, U.S. Central Command has carried out repeated airstrikes against Iranian military targets, while the Israel Defense Forces said they have been pushing back against provocations from Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group based in Lebanon.
Netanyahu has met with Trump in the Oval Office six times since Trump returned to office a year-and-a-half ago — more than any other world leader.
Netanyahu is deeply unpopular in Washington these days, among Democrats, Trump's close circle and the MAGA base.
The fact that Netanyahu is coming to Washington next week could signal that no significant escalation would take place before then. In previous rounds of escalation with Iran, both the U.S. and Israel issued statements about high-level visits as part of deception efforts ahead of military strikes against Iran.
Netanyahu last week asked to meet with Trump but did not get an appointment, and he said he decided to postpone his trip because the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's wake had been postponed. Some White House officials said last week that Netanyahu tried to "will the meeting into existence." A White House official said there were discussions about a potential Oval Office meeting between the two but noted that no meeting had been set. On Thursday, Trump said he would meet Netanyahu if he was in town for Graham's funeral ceremony.