The Times of Israel Daily Briefing Day 788 - PM invited to White House for unprecedented fifth time
Dec 2, 2025
Lazar Berman, a diplomatic correspondent specializing in Israeli and Middle Eastern diplomacy, shares insights on Prime Minister Netanyahu's unprecedented fifth invitation to the White House. He delves into the stalled Gaza ceasefire, the risks of Hezbollah rearmament in Lebanon, and recent clashes in Syria. Berman highlights how Syria's situation and U.S.-Saudi agreements may affect Israel's normalization efforts. He also discusses Trump's shifting priorities amid various global tensions, hinting at potential Israeli operations before the upcoming visit.
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Unprecedented Fifth White House Visit
- Netanyahu's fifth White House invite is unprecedented and signals unusually close ties with Trump this year.
- The January–September cadence of visits shows a pattern of frequent high-level coordination on regional issues.
Gaza Ceasefire Stalled
- The Gaza ceasefire is stalled with only a few hostages remaining and little progress on disarming Hamas.
- That stalemate makes diplomatic engagement with the U.S. especially urgent to break the impasse.
Gaza Part Of Broader Middle East Plan
- Trump views the Gaza issue as part of a broader Middle East strategy that includes expanding the Abraham Accords.
- Syria and Lebanon developments are tied into that strategy and will shape U.S.-Israel talks.