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<\/a><\/p>\nU.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on April 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST,\u201d Trump posted Sunday morning on Truth Social, his social network. \u201cALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump did not elaborate on what he meant. But the message came as details of the White House\u2019s proposed Israel-Hamas peace deal leaked over the weekend, with 21 points including the swift release of all living and dead Israeli hostages, concessions for both sides and plans for rebuilding Gaza and its governance.<\/p>\n
Trump is eager for Netanyahu\u2019s visit to end with the Israeli leader committing to a deal. But both Netanyahu and Vice President J.D. Vance suggested later on Sunday that an agreement was not as close as Trump had signaled. Vance told reporters that talks were at the \u201cone-yard line\u201d but with significant details remaining to negotiate.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu, who is widely understood to have prevented previous ceasefire deals from being completed, also told reporters that there was significant ground yet to close. He canceled public appearances on Sunday to prepare for the White House meeting \u2014 a move that his critics said suggested that he was trying to strategize about how to thwart this one, too.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s public broadcaster, Kan, reported that among the people Netanyahu met with on Sunday were Jared Kushner, his son-in-law who has previously proposed Israeli-Palestinian peace deals, and Steve Witkoff, his Middle East envoy. Both Kushner and Witkoff\u2019s son Alex have significant relationships and business interests in the Middle East, Alex Witkoff in Qatar and Kushner largely in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia\u2019s leaders have signaled openness to normalizing relations with Israel \u2014 after the war in Gaza ends.<\/p>\n
The Trump plan circulating would achieve the full return of all hostages, one of Netanyahu\u2019s stated goals in Gaza. But he has also sought \u201ctotal victory\u201d over Hamas \u2014 and while the White House terms would result in a demilitarized Hamas, it would also allow the group\u2019s leaders to leave Gaza safely and require Israel to commit not to striking them in Qatar, where Israel recently targeted Hamas\u2019 top brass as they convened to discuss a ceasefire proposal.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s plan also envisions a governance role for the Palestinian Authority and calls for a \u201ccredible pathway to Palestinian statehood\u201d \u2014 two moves that Netanyahu and his far-right allies staunchly oppose. One of those allies, Bezalel Smotrich, published a list of six \u201cred lines\u201d on Monday that would cause him to oppose a deal, including several that conflict with the Trump outline.<\/p>\n
Hostage families \u2014 whose unsuccessfully sought to meet with Netanyahu in New York \u2014 are urging Netanyahu to accept Trump\u2019s proposal, as are a wide array of Israeli opposition leaders. Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, said he could guarantee the deal\u2019s passage in the Israeli parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday I updated the American government that Netanyahu has a safety net from me for a hostage deal and ending the war,\u201d Lapid tweeted. \u201cIt has a majority in the Knesset and a majority in the country. There\u2019s no need to get excited about the empty threats from [Itamar] Ben Gvir and Smotrich.\u201d<\/p>\n