By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, with the U.S. president pushing a Gaza peace proposal after a slew of Western leaders embraced Palestinian statehood in defiance of American and Israeli opposition.
In Netanyahu’s fourth visit since Trump returned to office in January, the right-wing Israeli leader will be looking to shore up his country’s most important relationship as it faces growing international isolation nearly two years into its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
After one failed diplomatic effort after another, Trump told Reuters on Sunday he hopes to get Netanyahu’s agreement on a framework to end the conflict in the Palestinian enclave and free the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Washington presented a 21-point peace plan to Arab and Muslim states last week, and Trump will try to close some of the remaining gaps with Netanyahu on Monday.
Though Netanyahu praises Trump as Israel's closest ally, there are signs of some Israeli scepticism over the proposal, as well as reservations among Arab states.
Netanyahu can expect a warm welcome at the White House compared to the chilly reception he received when he spoke on Friday before the U.N. General Assembly where many delegates walked out in protest.
He went on to deliver a blistering attack on what he called a “disgraceful decision” over the past week by Britain, France, Canada, Australia and several other countries to recognize Palestinian statehood, a major diplomatic shift by top U.S. allies.
They said such action was needed to preserve the prospect for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and help bring the war to a close.
TRUMP OPTIMISTIC BUT HURDLES REMAIN
Trump, who had criticized the Palestinian recognition moves by Western leaders as a prize to Hamas, has presented an upbeat assessment of the chances to finally achieve an elusive peace deal.
"We’re getting a very good response because Bibi wants to make the deal too," Trump said in a telephone interview with Reuters, using Netanyahu's nickname. "Everybody wants to make the deal."
Asked whether there is now an agreed deal for peace in Gaza, a senior Israeli official said "it's too early to tell." The official added that Netanyahu would give Israel's response to the proposal when he meets Trump on Monday.
Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from the hostages’ families and, according to public opinion polls, a war-weary Israeli public.
The U.S. plan calls for the release of all hostages, living and dead, no further Israeli attacks on Qatar and a new dialogue between Israel and Palestinians for "peaceful coexistence,” a White House official said on condition of anonymity. Israel angered the Qataris and drew criticism from Trump for an airstrike against Hamas leaders in Doha on September 9.
A source familiar with the discussions said Israeli officials had raised concerns with Washington over issues including the proposed involvement of Palestinian security forces in Gaza after the war, expelling Hamas officials from the enclave and assigning overall security responsibility.
Netanyahu strongly opposes any role not only for Hamas but for the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in future governance of Gaza.
Sources in Egypt, which has acted as a mediator in ceasefire talks, said Cairo was concerned that the Palestinian Authority not be sidelined from administering Gaza, and about guarantees Israel would abide by any agreement's terms once hostages are freed.
Previous U.S.-backed ceasefire efforts have fallen apart due to a failure to bridge the differences between Israel and Hamas and Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is completely dismantled.
GAZA WAR TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT UN
The White House meeting follows an annual gathering of world leaders in New York in which the Gaza war took centre-stage and Israel was often the target. Netanyahu responded that the world leaders recognizing Palestinian independence were sending the message that “murdering Jews pays off.”
The most far-right government in Israeli history has ruled out acceptance of a Palestinian state as it presses on with its fight against Hamas following the militants' October 7, 2023, rampage in Israel. Hamas-led fighters killed some 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's military response has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza, according to local health officials, leaving much of the territory in ruins, a humanitarian crisis deepening and hunger spreading.
The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in the Gaza war. Israel rejects the court's jurisdiction and denies committing war crimes.
While Trump and Netanyahu have mostly been in sync and the U.S. continues to be Israel's main arms supplier, Monday’s discussions have the potential for tensions to surface.
Some of Netanyahu’s hardline ministers have said the government should respond to growing recognition of Palestinian statehood by formally extending Israeli sovereignty over all or parts of the occupied West Bank to snuff out hopes for Palestinian independence.
On Thursday, however, Trump said he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, which the Palestinians want for their state, along with Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Analysts say Israeli annexation of the West Bank could unravel the landmark Abraham Accords, a signature foreign policy achievement brokered by Trump’s first administration in which several Arab countries forged diplomatic ties with Israel.
(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk, Diane Craft, Aidan Lewis)
