Are they preparing a surprise? Or is Donald Trump, for reasons of his own, choosing to keep today's meeting - the third since the beginning of the year - with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discreet?
In a highly unusual move for meetings between heads of state, and especially given the close relationship between Trump and Netanyahu, this evening's gathering will be held at 6:30 p.m Washington time., which is 1:30 a.m. Israel time, well after the main nightly news broadcasts.
The US president and the prime minister will meet at the White House. As of now, no joint press appearance is planned. There will be only a brief reception at the White House entrance, followed by a private dinner – no press statements, no open questions in the Oval Office, and none of the usual optics from their previous encounters or from Trump's meetings with other world leaders.
So why the hush surrounding the meeting? Some speculate that a major surprise might be in store - and with Trump, that's never out of the question. But there's also a simpler explanation: right now, there's no significant achievement to present. While talks in Doha are reportedly making progress, it's slow - there's no hostage deal yet. Likewise, any breakthrough diplomatic agreements, such as an expansion of the Abraham Accords, do not appear ready for public declaration. It's possible that Trump simply wants to downplay the meeting with Netanyahu at this stage.
Still, the topics on the table are anything but minor: how to enforce restrictions on Iran and prevent missile armament, the war in Gaza, and the ongoing efforts for a hostage deal. The key long-term question remains: Trump wants the war to end, and so does Netanyahu - but the prime minister refuses to stop it as long as Hamas remains in power in Gaza with military and civilian control. How to square that circle? That's likely what they'll discuss at the White House, far from the cameras.
