The analysis of Middle East expert Natan Sachs provides a crucial lens through which to view the upcoming White House summit, highlighting the central tension between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “clear preference for continuing the war” and President Donald Trump’s diplomatic pressure. Sachs’s assessment underscores the immense challenge facing the U.S. president.
Sachs, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, articulated the Israeli leader’s position succinctly. Netanyahu’s primary goal is the military defeat of Hamas. This is not just a political slogan; it is a deeply held conviction that only a decisive military outcome can provide Israel with long-term security.
However, Sachs also offered a glimmer of hope for the U.S. peace plan, stating, “I don’t think it’s impossible for Trump to convince him otherwise.” This suggests that Netanyahu’s position, while firm, is not absolute. He is a pragmatic politician who may be susceptible to a sufficiently compelling argument or a significant amount of pressure from his most important ally.
According to Sachs, the outcome of the meeting will hinge on how much pressure Trump is “willing to put on Netanyahu.” This frames the summit as a direct test of Trump’s political will and his willingness to risk friction in the U.S.-Israel relationship to achieve his objective.
The analyst’s view makes it clear that this will not be a friendly meeting where two like-minded allies iron out minor details. It will be a tough, high-stakes negotiation where one leader with a preference for war is confronted by another who is determined to impose peace. The result, as Sachs implies, is anything but certain.