Netanyahu to Attend Lindsey Graham Funeral During Washington Visit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to attend the funeral of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham during a visit to Washington. He is scheduled to depart Israel on Saturday night. Israeli sources say Netanyahu is tentatively scheduled to meet President Donald Trump on Monday.

The two leaders have spoken several times in recent weeks, and the Prime Minister’s Office said they agreed to meet soon in the United States after one of those conversations. Neither the White House nor the Prime Minister’s Office has officially confirmed the visit. The discussions are also expected to cover regional security issues beyond Iran.

The United States and Iran remain engaged in an escalating military confrontation centered on the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces have carried out days of strikes against Iranian military targets in response to attacks on commercial shipping.

Israeli officials view the talks as an opportunity to coordinate with Washington on regional security. Recent reports have suggested the Trump administration is encouraging Israel to reduce its military presence in parts of southern Lebanon and Syria.

Israeli officials have maintained that the IDF’s presence in those areas is intended to prevent Hezbollah and other hostile forces from reestablishing positions near Israel’s borders.

Trump recently dismissed speculation about any rift with Netanyahu. “I get along with him very well,” Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt.