'Condolence' call between Netanyahu and Trump
It has been reported that US President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his condolences over the killing of two Israeli diplomats in an armed attack in Washington.
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In a written statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Press Office, it was stated that Netanyahu and Trump spoke over the phone.
It was expressed that Trump conveyed his deep sorrow to Netanyahu over the killing of two Israeli diplomats in an armed attack in Washington.
It was also noted that during the call, Netanyahu and Trump discussed Israel's attacks on Gaza.
It was reported that the US President expressed support for the goals Netanyahu has set for the attacks on Gaza, which include "the release of all Israeli hostages, the elimination of Hamas, and the displacement of Palestinians in the region to other countries, a plan known as the Trump plan."
It was stated that Trump and Netanyahu agreed on ensuring that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons.
The phone call is notable as it comes following allegations of friction between Trump and Netanyahu.
ALLEGATIONS OF FRICTION BETWEEN THE TWO
The US starting nuclear negotiations with Iran, the dismissal of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and the reaching of a ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen had been interpreted as "signs of a problem between Trump and Netanyahu."
In the Israeli press, it had been claimed that US President Trump had decided to cut off contact with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Later, as a result of direct talks between Hamas and the US, the US-Israeli dual citizen hostage soldier Idan Alexander was released, and it was noted that Israel was only informed of this after the agreement was reached.
US President Donald Trump did not include Israel in his Middle East tour, during which he visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE between May 13-16.
In Riyadh, despite strong opposition from Israel, Trump announced that he would lift sanctions on Syria at the request of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and in a statement he made on the plane while returning to the US, he said he "did not ask the Israelis for their opinion" on the matter.
The US President's decision not to include Israel in his Middle East visit following all these events was interpreted as "the Washington administration leaving Israel out of regional diplomatic initiatives."