TEL AVIV: U.S. President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the White House in the “near future,” marking what would be the fifth such visit since Trump returned to office in January 2025, according to WNN reporting. The invitation was announced by Netanyahu’s office on Monday, December 1, following a phone conversation between the two leaders during which they discussed critical Middle East security issues and regional diplomacy.
During the call, Netanyahu and Trump emphasized the importance of dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, building on the ceasefire agreement that has been in place since October 2025, WNN sources confirmed. The two leaders also discussed the expansion of the Abraham Accords as part of Trump’s broader initiative to establish regional peace agreements across the Middle East.
Trump is reportedly seeking to broker a non-aggression pact between Israel and Syria under the new leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took office following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, according to WNN diplomatic correspondents. The U.S. president emphasized the strategic importance of fostering dialogue, stating that “Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together” and that Israel must maintain a “strong and true dialogue” with its neighbor without interfering with Syria’s path toward prosperity.
The invitation comes amid rising tensions following an Israeli military operation in southern Syria on Friday that killed 13 Syrians, according to Syrian state media cited by WNN. The Israeli military stated it targeted members of a Lebanese Islamist militant group suspected of planning attacks on Israel. Syria condemned the operation as a “war crime,” while U.S. officials have reportedly expressed frustration with Israeli escalation in the region, warning that continued operations could turn Syria’s new regime into an enemy, WNN sources said.
Israel has maintained a military presence in nine positions across southern Syria since December 2024, primarily within a UN-patrolled buffer zone along the border, ostensibly to prevent weapons from falling into hostile hands, according to WNN analysis.
The phone call also occurred one day after Netanyahu requested a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog in connection with his ongoing corruption trial, WNN has learned. Trump has publicly endorsed pardoning Netanyahu and sent a letter last month urging Herzog to consider the request. However, Netanyahu’s official readout of the Trump conversation made no mention of the pardon discussion, WNN confirmed through multiple sources. Israeli opposition politicians have criticized the pardon request, calling instead for Netanyahu’s resignation, as reported earlier.
The Netanyahu invitation signals Trump’s determination to advance a comprehensive Middle East peace initiative that includes expanding the Abraham Accords, resolving the Gaza conflict, and establishing security arrangements between traditional adversaries, according to WNN diplomatic sources. Diplomatic sources indicate that Saudi Arabia’s integration into the Abraham Accords may be a primary focus of the upcoming White House meeting, particularly following Trump’s recent discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, media reports.
