Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on 6 April, where the two leaders addressed journalists following closed-door discussions that covered regional security, bilateral trade, and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking alongside Trump, Netanyahu focused in particular on developments in Syria, stating that Israel will not tolerate the use of Syrian territory for launching attacks against its population.
“We don’t want to see Syria being used by anyone, including Turkey, as a base for attack on Israel,” he declared.
Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel and Turkey had previously maintained neighbourly relations, but noted that these ties have since deteriorated. He called for careful diplomacy to avoid direct confrontation in Syria and expressed confidence in the role of the US President to mediate tensions.
“We’ve had neighbourly relations with Turkey that have deteriorated, and we discussed how we can avoid this conflict in a variety of ways. I think we can’t have a better interlocutor than the President of the United States for this purpose,” Netanyahu said.
Trump appeared to sideline Netanyahu at the press conference, while heaping praise on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for what he described as a successful anti-Assad operation carried out through HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham). “I spoke to Erdoğan,” Trump claimed, “and congratulated him on the operation. He said, ‘No, no, it wasn’t me,’ but I know it was. He’s a smart guy.” The US president said he had “great relations” with Erdoğan — strikingly at odds with his cool tone towards Netanyahu – and asserted that US mediation could prevent an Israel-Turkey escalation.
Netanyahu’s stance comes amid growing concerns in Tel Aviv over Turkish activities in northern and central Syria, where Ankara has supported several armed groups and sought to expand its influence. While Turkey frames its involvement as counterterrorism, Israel increasingly views such moves as potential threats to its northern frontier.
The Israeli leader’s White House appearance followed his recent visit to Hungary—his first to an EU member state since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes committed during military operations in Gaza. In Budapest, he met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government is widely criticised for authoritarian governance and has itself withdrawn support for the ICC. The visit was widely seen as a strategic move to rally diplomatic backing against the warrant ahead of Netanyahu’s high-profile meetings in Washington.
In contrast to the tension-filled message on Syria, the two leaders also discussed economic issues, with Netanyahu pledging to reduce Israel’s trade deficit with the United States. Trump, for his part, affirmed his commitment to maintaining tariffs against multiple nations, including Israel, as part of a broader push to renegotiate what he termed “unfair” trade deals. The Washington meeting unfolded amid intense legal and diplomatic pressure on Netanyahu, with the ICC arrest warrant adding controversy to his international travel and casting a shadow over his global legitimacy. While the US does not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction over its allies, the legal scrutiny has nonetheless complicated Netanyahu’s efforts to project strength abroad.
Turning to Iran, President Trump made headlines by announcing the resumption of direct nuclear negotiations with Tehran. He said high-level meetings would begin on Saturday and would not involve intermediaries. “We’re having direct talks, and we believe this is in everyone’s interest, including Iran,” Trump stated. The talks mark a notable shift after years of deadlock and could have broad implications for regional stability.
Background
Israeli concerns over Turkey’s presence in Syria have intensified over the past year, with Tel Aviv accusing Ankara of attempting to entrench military assets and expand political influence in ways that challenge regional stability. The T4 and Hama airbases in central Syria have been points of particular concern, with Israeli intelligence alleging Turkish interest in their strategic potential. Recent Israeli airstrikes on these bases have been widely interpreted as pre-emptive measures.
In response, Turkey has insisted its actions in Syria are defensive and in line with international norms. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, following a surprise visit to Washington and later remarks at NATO headquarters in Brussels, stated that Ankara seeks no direct confrontation with Israel. Nonetheless, regional analysts note that Israel’s firm posture and US backing may have effectively curbed Turkey’s aspirations to expand beyond its current zones of control in northern Syria.
Observers also point to the growing role of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in shaping Syria’s post-conflict landscape. As Turkey faces mounting pressure from both Israel and shifting Arab alignments, Washington’s role as mediator could prove decisive in averting a wider conflict and balancing power in the region.
