CNN: Takeaways from Trump and Netanyahu’s meeting in Florida

When journalists asked Trump at a press conference about his reaction to the Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence, Netanyahu smiled...
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President Donald Trump’s Monday meeting in Florida with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu generated plenty of warm words — but no clear progress in their peace plan for Gaza, CNN notes.

The leaders held a private lunch at Mar-a-Lago aimed at working out a series of issues in the Middle East, as the two sides try to cement a lasting end to Israel’s war with Hamas and ensure broader peace throughout the region.

Trump at the outset of the session told reporters that he planned to speak with Netanyahu about “five major subjects,” later suggesting that they’d come close to settling three of them within the first five minutes of their session.

In addition to Gaza, Trump indicated plans to address issues in the occupied West Bank and potential threats posed by Iran.

But more than an hour later, the two emerged with no new milestones to announce.

Here are the takeaways from Monday’s meeting:

Intense flattery, lingering divisions

Trump and Netanyahu spent much of their time in public together exchanging compliments, as both sought to show their relationship remains better than ever despite the occasional strains of the past year — and Trump’s growing wariness of some of Israel’s actions amid his efforts to keep peace in the Middle East.

“We’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House. It’s not even close,” Netanyahu said upon his arrival.

Trump returned the favor moments later, asserting that “Israel, with most other leaders, would not exist today.”

“The relationship’s been extraordinary,” Trump said.

But he did acknowledge ongoing divisions between the US and Israel, chiefly over the West Bank. Trump has opposed Israel annexing the area, aligning himself with many Western and Arab nations on the issue. The Israeli government, meanwhile, has discussed annexing parts of the West Bank in the past and intensified its military operations in the area since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.

“We’ve had a discussion, big discussion, for a long time on the West Bank, and I wouldn’t say we agree on the West Bank 100%,” Trump told CNN’s Kevin Liptak.

Phase 2 in Gaza still on hold

Trump and Netanyahu also failed to reach an agreement on moving to the second phase of the US-brokered peace plan for Gaza — a sticking point that’s slowed work toward permanent peace and an eventual rebuilding effort.

Trump seemed to allude to the difficulty of the negotiations at one point, suggesting that Netanyahu was skeptical of giving “second chances” in an effort to ensure the ceasefire remains permanent. Still, he told reporters that “Israel’s lived up to the plan 100%.”

Grave warnings for Iran

Trump had a far clearer message on Iran, amid Israel’s warnings that the nation is trying to rebuild its missile capabilities following US strikes on a trio of nuclear sites earlier this year.

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