Netanyahu Seeks Stronger U.S. Backing as Trump Grows Cautious Over Israeli Moves

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made multiple trips to the United States this year to praise President Donald Trump as Israel’s staunchest supporter while quietly urging more forceful measures against Israel’s adversaries.

On Monday at Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu is expected to press Trump for a tougher posture toward Hamas in Gaza and to raise alarms about recent advances in Iran’s ballistic missile program. But the reception may be cooler than on past visits: Trump, who campaigned as a president of peace, has expressed wariness about some Israeli actions and is sensitive to U.S. public reluctance to become entangled in another prolonged Middle Eastern conflict.

Fragile Ceasefire, Unfinished Roadmap

A fragile Gaza ceasefire that Trump traveled to the region to help finalize in October is being tested by continuing Israeli operations in the Palestinian territory and by delays in implementing the deal’s second phase. That next phase would include Hamas disarmament, the start of reconstruction and the establishment of post-war governance — including a proposed international oversight body.

The U.S. has pushed to move quickly into the second stage and to announce more details about Gaza’s governance and a new international stabilization force. Central to the plan is a proposed "Board of Peace," envisioned to be chaired by Trump and other global leaders — a concept Trump touted as highly sought-after at the White House earlier this month.

Frictions Mount

Israel, however, has been reluctant to further withdraw from Gaza until Hamas disarms, creating friction with some White House advisers who worry that Netanyahu may be slow-walking progress. Tensions rose notably after an Israeli strike in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders in September — an action that risked undermining Qatar’s role as an interlocutor and infuriated Trump, who later pressed Netanyahu to apologize to Qatari officials during an Oval Office encounter.

There are other policy rifts as well. On Syria, Washington and Jerusalem differ over diplomatic engagement versus security guarantees on the ground. In Lebanon, the U.S. emphasizes diplomacy while Israel doubts Beirut’s ability to restrain Hezbollah without additional pressure. Iran remains a critical flashpoint: Israel is closely monitoring Tehran’s nuclear program and growing ballistic missile capabilities, while the U.S. reiterates its commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"Mutual need creates a certain amount of dependency," said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "This may not be a great meeting, but it’s not going to crater."

Despite public displays of friendship — including Trump’s high-profile suggestion that Israel’s president consider pardoning Netanyahu amid corruption investigations — the relationship between the two leaders has been strained at times by differing regional priorities and political pressures on both sides.

The Mar-a-Lago meeting comes days after Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the estate, underscoring the president’s active diplomatic engagements during his holiday period. Observers say both leaders have incentives to maintain a working relationship even as disagreements persist over strategy, timing and tactics in the region.

CNN’s Tal Shalev contributed to this report.