Netanyahu caught off guard as Trump announces direct talks with Iran

PM’s visit to Washington was meant to focus on tariffs, but took a decidedly negative turn when the US president, with Netanyahu beside him, announced direct talks with Tehran on its nuclear program, catching Jerusalem off guard by the public, high-level disclosure

ed note–still waiting for the horde of self-declared ‘geo-political experts’ to explain how a POTUS supposedly ‘owned by d’Jooz’ and who is charged with being a ‘puppet’ to the demands of Benjamin Netanyahu does something like this OTHER than for the obvious reason, which is that he is neither a ‘puppet’ nor is he ‘owned’.

Ynet

One moment at the Oval Office on Monday was telling. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swallowed hard, then bowed his head when U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States was speaking directly with Iran about its nuclear program.

Netanyahu was not the only one surprised by Trump’s words. Some American officials were unaware that the president would announce the direct talks, with Netanyahu sitting beside him.

Israeli officials had said the main purpose of Netanyahu’s hurried trip to Washington was to discuss the tariffs imposed on Israeli imports. ‘We are aware of contact between the United States and Iran and are not concerned,’ they said.

But the White House had prepared an unpleasant surprise for Netanyahu—not just by revealing that discussions were already underway, which was known in Jerusalem, but by making the negotiations public, at the presidential level, of the utmost importance, and described as ‘direct’—all the while that Netanyahu was in the Oval Office.

Israeli officials found some consolation in one outcome: President Trump’s explicit threat against Iran if negotiations were to fail, made in response to a question by journalist Barak Ravid. Trump warned that Iran would be in ‘great danger.’ Tehran is known to resist negotiating under pressure from deadlines and military threats. The president made clear this was exactly the approach being taken.

The Israelis believe that the Iranians—who consider themselves masters of negotiation—often misunderstand the other side, and therefore the talks are likely to fail. And when that happens, Trump would realize that only a military strike will bring Iran back to the table.

Nearly all questions asked during the extended press conference in the Oval Office were directed at Trump and focused on the tariffs imposed on imports to the United States. The Middle East was not the focus of media interest.

Officials agreed that the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump was positive and pleasant.

But the results, from Netanyahu’s perspective, were minimal. Trump not only kept the 17% tariffs on Israeli imports in place—he gave no indication they would be removed or reduced. Trump even took a jab at the prime minister by congratulating him on the $4 billion in military aid Israel receives annually from the United States.

This came after Israel wasted its remaining leverage by removing all tariffs from U.S. imports to Israel. That was a mistake. It would have been better to offer that gesture directly to the president.

Netanyahu then promised to eliminate the trade deficit that exists in Israel’s favor, although he gave no details on how that would be achieved.

The president also made it clear he does not share Netanyahu’s concerns about Turkey’s growing involvement in Syria, despite statements from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. ‘I like him,’ Trump said of the Turkish leader, and offered to mediate between Israel and Turkey if conflict arises.