U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to officially sign off on U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.
Netanyahu's advisers as well as Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer, in addition to senior Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman were also set to attend the meeting.
On Thursday, Trump tweeted, "After 52 years, it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and regional stability!"
The two leaders are also set to discuss Iranian aggression in the Middle East, including Tehran's attempts to establish a military foothold in Syria as well as ways of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The two are also slated to discuss other security and intelligence matters.
Before his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu is expected to meet with congressional leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Meanwhile, Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis will meet with Trump science adviser Kelvin Droegemeier. During their meeting, Akunis is expected to ask Droegemeier to rescind the ban on U.S. investments in science initiatives based in Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights.
The restriction on investment in Israel was imposed in 1972, five years after the Six-Day War, as part of a bilateral agreement on scientific cooperation. Akunis' request was coordinated with the Prime Minister's Office.
