Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump on December 29, the government spokesman said Monday. The meeting is expected to take place as part of a diplomatic framework that has been taking shape in recent days ahead of the prime minister's visit to the US.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's new inner circle held a meeting on Monday with US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. Sources close to the prime minister point to significant personnel shifts within Netanyahu's inner circle, clearly visible in the new roster of attendees.
Additionally, the Prime Minister's Office foreign press spokesperson, Shosh Bedrosian, added, "During the meeting with Waltz, the Israeli team conveyed to Waltz that Israel did not appreciate Ambassador Tom Barak's recent comments from Doha yesterday." Barak said yesterday in a jab that "Israel can call itself a democracy." The meeting was attended by spokesperson Ziv Agmon, foreign policy advisor Dr. Ophir Falk, and Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon, who traveled to New York specifically for the meeting. Also present were Acting Foreign Ministry Director-General Gil Reich; entrepreneur Michael Eisenberg, who has criticized government policy in various areas in the past and whose presence at the meeting, according to Israeli sources, came at the Americans' request; foreign policy advisor Caroline Glick; and Foreign Ministry official Yoni Eshpar.
Notably absent from the meeting was longtime Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman, considered a central figure in Netanyahu's close circle for years. His absence came against the backdrop of his anticipated appointment as Israel's ambassador to London.
