Trump Hosts Netanyahu at White House, Will Push Gaza Peace Proposal

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. Trump will push his Gaza peace proposal after several Western leaders accepted Palestinian statehood, defying American and Israeli opposition.

In Netanyahu's fourth visit since Trump returned to office, the right-wing Israeli leader will seek to strengthen his country's most important relationship amid growing international isolation stemming from nearly two years of war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

He can expect a warm welcome compared to the chilly reception he received when he addressed the UN General Assembly on Friday, where many delegates walked out in protest.

Netanyahu sharply criticized what he called the "shameful decision" over the past week by Britain, France, Canada, Australia, and several other countries to recognize Palestinian statehood, a major diplomatic shift by key US allies.

They said the move was necessary to preserve the prospect of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and help end the war.

Trump, who had previously criticized the recognition move as a gift to Hamas, told Reuters on Sunday he hoped to secure Netanyahu's agreement on a framework to end the war in the Palestinian enclave and release the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

"We've had a very good response because Bibi also wants to make a deal," Trump said in a telephone interview, using Netanyahu's nickname.

"Everybody wants to make a deal," he continued.

He praised the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, and Egypt for their assistance and said the deal aims to move beyond Gaza to broader Middle East peace.

"This is called peace in the Middle East, it's more than just Gaza. Gaza is part of it. But it's peace in the Middle East," Trump said.

When asked if there was now an agreement on peace in Gaza, a senior Israeli official said it was too early to say.

The official said Netanyahu would provide Israel's response to the proposal when he meets Trump on Monday.

Netanyahu is under increasing pressure from the families of the hostages and, according to public opinion polls, from a war-weary Israeli public.

A 21-point peace plan was circulated to several Arab and Muslim countries on the sidelines of the UN assembly last week.

The plan calls for the release of all hostages, both living and dead, a halt to further Israeli attacks on Qatar, and renewed dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians for "peaceful coexistence," said a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Israel angered Qatar and drew criticism from Trump for its airstrike on Hamas leaders in Doha on September 9.

Previous US-backed ceasefire efforts have failed to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas, and Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is completely disbanded.