Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• US Jewish groups divided on Trump’s threat to deport campus anti-Israel protesters

Executive order signed Wednesday directs agencies to take ‘actions to remove’ non-citizen students who endorse terror
Some welcome the move amid concerns about rights violations

Jewish groups are offering mixed reactions to US President Donald Trump’s latest executive order on antisemitism that suggests that foreign-born anti-Israel student protesters could be deported

Some say the order is taking advantage of Jewish fear to,
1. erode civil liberties
2. and stoke fears about immigrants

Others, including some of the largest US organizations, say,
1. they welcome efforts to improve the climate on college campuses —
2. as long as civil and immigrant rights protections are applied

And a few say they are ready and eager to help —
and have even started supplying the Trump administration with names of protesters to target

In the order issued Wednesday, Trump directed government departments to take “actions to remove” students
1. who are not citizens
2. and who endorse terrorism

The order is framed as an update on Trump’s 2019 executive order on antisemitism and includes several other provisions
It would fulfill some of Trump’s campaign promises to combat antisemitism on college campuses

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• Trump order to curtail widespread antisemitism climate on college campuses and beyond

It would also sharply escalate the methods the government uses to fight antisemitism on campuses and beyond

It would link that effort with Trump’s vast campaign to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, which a range of Jewish groups oppose

Some of Trump's allies had been pushing for such a move for months before his election

1. Marco Rubio, now Trump’s secretary of state, had called for such visas to be revoked while still a senator
2. as had Representative Elise Stefanik, now the president’s nominee for United Nations ambassador

The order says, Hamas’s October 7, 2023 terror onslaught on Israel,
1. unleashed an unprecedented wave of vile antisemitic discrimination
2. vandalism and violence against our citizens
3. especially in our schools and on our campuses —
4. Jewish students have faced an unrelenting barrage of discrimination;
5. denial of access to campus common areas and facilities, including libraries and classrooms;
6. and intimidation, harassment, and physical threats and assault

The order also gives federal agencies 60 days to issue recommendations for fighting antisemitism

It also asks government officials to inventory Title VI antisemitism complaints and lawsuits alleging antisemitic discrimination on campus

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• Terror mongering non-citizens “inadmissible”

As with many of the executive orders issued by Trump in the 10 days since he took office — more than any other president has signed in the same period — relatively little is clear about how his administration plans to implement its most dramatic components

The executive Terror order cites a law that deems a non-citizen “inadmissible” who, among other things,
1. endorses or espouses terrorist activity or
2. persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity
3. or support a terrorist organization

The order comes amid widespread concern about the climate on college campuses
1. Anti-Israel protests last spring caused many Jewish and pro-Israel students to feel unsafe;
2. disrupted classes and activities at times;
3. and in some cases, included physical violence against Jewish and pro-Israel students

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• groundswell of antisemitism campus activity

Amid the groundswell of campus activity were some documented cases of pro-Palestinian students or other protesters expressing
1. open support for Hamas or
2. calling for the deaths of Israelis and Zionists

It’s unclear how many of those protesters are not citizens

It is also unclear how the Justice Department under Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi would determine whether a protester had expressed support for terrorism

Decisions about issuing or revoking of student visas would fall under the purview of the State Department

One question is whether anyone who has ever been arrested while participating in a pro-Palestinian protest would be vulnerable
Many protesters who were arrested were later not charged or charged with misdemeanors

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• too broad of a definition of supporting terrorism

Critics of the order have maintained that Republicans and many in the pro-Israel camp use too broad of a definition of supporting terrorism — particularly when it comes to pro-Palestinian activism — and that cracking down on pro-Palestinian speech would hurt American Jews in the long run

Amy Spitalnick, head of the liberal Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said in a statement opposing Trump’s executive order,
Mainstream Jewish groups have so far broadly applauded Trump’s stated desire to fight antisemitism while expressing concern over the more controversial aspect of the order

In a statement, the American Jewish Committee said it would “endorse without hesitation” Trump’s push to apply existing laws to addressing antisemitism

But the group was more circumspect about the deportation concept, stating,

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• US Jewish groups divided on Trump antisemitism order

The Anti-Defamation League ADL also broadly supported the goals of Trump’s order

But the ADL group added a cautionary note, saying,
Jewish Federations of North America JFNA told, The Jewish Telegraphic Agency JTA late on Thursday, that it supported the order and downplayed its deportation aspectsa spokesperson for JFNA wrote in an email, adding,
(The ADL and JFNA had, as recently as December, declined to comment on Trump’s stated plans to deport protesters)

Some Jewish groups are embracing the order without hesitation

• Betar US

Betar US a reboot of a century-old militant Zionist youth movement, has launched an effort to track foreign-born college students who have engaged in protest activity

In part by using artificial intelligence, the group has compiled dossiers on the most active protesters to submit to the Trump administration for deportation

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• foreign students should not have the right to go after the American government

Ross Glick, executive director of Betar Zionist movement US told, The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) this week that he has received “countless” submissions since launching the campaign

A Betar spokesperson said the group was “very happy” about the new order and said the group has already submitted more than 100 names to Trump administration officials

Glick maintains that those on the list are egregious offenders

Glick said, referring to the scarf that is a symbol of Palestinian solidarity
“They’re being reported because they have been,
1. espousing anti-Zionist, anti-Israel, anti-American behavior,
2. masking up in protests,
3. participating in Intifada-led protests
4. and then are here as guests of our country, in some cases getting grants or funds”

Glick added,

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• “Nobody’s looking to deport somebody who is legal"

Ross Glick, executive director of Betar Zionist movement US said,
(The Supreme Court has generally held that foreigners on American soil are entitled to at least some First Amendment protections)

The question of deporting non-citizen anti-Israel students was already on the radar last spring

The Jewish president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sally Kornbluth was heavily criticized by some pro-Israel voices after she declined to suspend foreign-born protesters for fear their visas would be jeopardized

Now, some Jewish groups want to see the executive order applied more widely, beyond the colleges and universities where the federal government has sway because of the funding it supplies

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• action against non-citizens who,

1. materially support terrorism
2. and threaten Jewish Americans

Earlier this month, the Secure Community Network (SCN) which coordinates security for Jewish institutions, urged Trump to take,
Secure Community Network (SCN) Group’s Director and CEO Michael Masters, argued that existing law already permits the government to take such action when a student is found to have provided “material support” to a registered terror group such as Hamas or ISIS

Masters wrote in an open letter,
The time has come for the United States government,
1. to stand up for our citizens and our country —
2. and to take meaningful action to protect the people of our country, by enforcing those laws

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• Trump’s stated intent to addressing campus antisemitism

The Secure Community Network (SCN) which coordinates security for Jewish institutions, Director and CEO Michael Masters’ stance was opposed this week by rabbis and cantors via an open letter circulated by the progressive Jewish human rights network T’ruah

The letter signed by hundreds of rabbis across the country, reads,
In addition to reflecting Trump's anti-immigration views, the order dovetails with Trump’s stated intent to move aspects of addressing campus antisemitism from the Education Department to the Justice Department

Trump's Executive Order to remove students who endorse terror
The Times of Israel by Andrew Lapin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• Deportation plan has roots in "Project Esther"

The deportation plan has roots in "Project Esther" a policy proposal to combat antisemitism released by the right-wing "Heritage Foundation" during the campaign season

Prior to the election, many Jewish groups had declined to work with the "Heritage Foundation" on the initiative and criticized the program as an attempt,
1. to clamp down on left-wing political activism
2. without meaningfully addressing antisemitism on the right

But a small number of conservative-leaning Jewish groups, endorsed "Project Esther" including
1. the Zionist Organization of America
2. the Coalition for Jewish Values
3. and the Combat Antisemitism Movement

• Harshly critical of Israel "IfNotNow"

"IfNotNow" a left-wing Jewish group harshly critical of Israel, also opposed Trump’s plan Wednesday, saying,
"IfNotNow" spokesperson Eva Borgwardt said in a statement,

Trump's Antisemitism Executive Order
Haaretz by Etan Nechin 31 January 2025

Extracts:

• Trump's Antisemitism Executive Order

1. Worries Progressive Jewish Groups
2. Delights Others

Progressive Jewish organizations vow to fight the 'repressive' order, while others welcome Trump's historic commitment to protecting the Jewish community'

US President Donald Trump's executive order, which the White House claims will take "unprecedented" action against what it describes as a surge in antisemitism since October 7 has drawn mixed reactions from Jewish organizations

• Australia

Exactly what we need here, in Australia
1. Enough! with all the empty 'condemnation' -- Day 485
2. Meaningful and effective action
3. Zero tolerance

significant escalation in a wave of antisemitic and anti-Israel nasty slogans, vandalism, violence and cowardly, dangerous, arson attacks almost daily occurrences particularly in Melbourne and Sydney

Day 486 Too little Too late

From: Reuters February 2, 2025
Australia hits right-wing online network 'Terrorgram' with sanctions

The government's move would make it:
1. a criminal offense to engage with "Terrorgram"
2. and it would help prevent children from getting caught up in far-right extremism.

Australia on Monday imposed sanctions on extreme right-wing online network "Terrorgram" as part of its efforts to combat a rise in antisemitism and online extremism, and after similar moves by Britain and the United States.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement:
"Terrorgram is an online network that promotes white supremacy and racially-motivated violence,"

"It is the first time any Australian Government has imposed counterterrorism financing sanctions on an entity based entirely online."
Offenders will face up to 10 years in jail and heavy fines, she said.

Australia re-list, hit other right-wing groups with counterterrorism financing sanctions:

The Australian government has also re-listed and hit other right-wing groups with sanctions including:
1. the National Socialist Order,
2. the Russian Imperial Movement,
3. Sonnenkrieg Division
4. The Base

US President Joe Biden's administration in January designated "Terrorgram," which primarily operates on the Telegram social media site, accusing it of promoting violent white supremacy.

Britain in April made it a criminal offense in the country to belong to or promote the group.

Australian police had arrested members of a neo-Nazi group in the South Australian city of Adelaide last week when the country marked its National Day, and charged a man for displaying a Nazi symbol.

Australia has also seen an escalating series of attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars since the Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023 sparking fear among Australia's nearly 115,000 Jewish people.

Rise of anti-Semitism, in spite of the ceasefire... Hoodlums Get a Job

From: The Times of Israel February 2, 2025
Jordan said to tell Hamas it will extradite Sbarro bomber Tamimi to US if no alternative by day’s end

The Qatari Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news outlet corroborates an earlier report from Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV channel that Jordan is seeking to deport Sbarro pizzeria bomber Ahlam Tamimi.

According to the outlet, Jordanian intelligence authorities informed Hamas earlier today that the terror group must either find a country willing to take in Tamimi by the end of the day, or she will be extradited to the United States, where she is wanted by the FBI for the murder of two US civilians in the 2001 Jerusalem pizzeria bombing.

Tamimi was sentenced to 16 life sentences by Israel for orchestrating the August 9, 2001 Sbarro pizzeria bombing, but was released in 2011 as part of a deal with Hamas for the release of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

The family of Israeli-American victim Malki Roth has been battling ever since, seeking Tamimi’s extradition to the US

During US President Donald Trump’s first term in office, his administration said it was considering withholding aid to Jordan until it agreed to extradite Tamimi, but ultimately no action was taken.

It is unclear what triggered Jordan’s reported ultimatum to Hamas, but it comes on the heels of an invitation for King Abdullah II to visit Trump in the White House later this month.

Last week, Trump said Jordan and Egypt should take in Palestinians from Gaza, which he called a “demolition site,” after more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.

Both countries appeared to reject the demand, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that the country’s stance against any displacement of Palestinians from Gaza remains “firm and unwavering.”

At the same time as it is reportedly seeking to deport Tamimi Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports that:
the Hashemite Kingdom has also refused to take in any Palestinians with Jordanian citizenship who are released from Israeli prisons on the condition of deportation during the ceasefire-hostage release deal with Hamas.

From: The Times of Israel February 2, 2025

Following release, elderly Palestinian security prisoner:
1. bashes Hamas,
2. price of October 7

Recently released Palestinian security prisoner Mohammed al-Tous spoke out against Hamas’s October 7 massacre in two separate interviews to Arab media this past week, citing the human cost of the ensuing Gaza war.

the 69-year-old ex-detainee said in a Friday interview with the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya outlet:
Al-Tous is the oldest security prisoner freed so far as part of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal.

A member of the Palestinian Authority’s ruling Fatah movement, he was arrested in 1985 for organizing attacks on Israelis in and around Jerusalem. He went on to spend 40 years in prison.

Israeli authorities deported al-Tous to Egypt upon his release in the second round of the exchange, which saw 200 security prisoners traded for 4 female Israeli soldier hostages.

He was one of 121 prisoners serving life sentences freed that day.
He was one of the few prisoners detained before the 1993 Oslo Accords not released as part of those agreements.

On Wednesday, al-Tous gave an interview to the Emirati al-Mashhad news outlet, in which he criticized Hamas leadership when asked about the October 7 attack that ultimately led to his release.

He said:
1. “If I had known the cost of my freedom, I would have stayed in prison…
2. A leader who is thinking of carrying out a large attack must be aware of the cost.
3. It is unacceptable that the cost of our release from prison is blood from Palestinian children,”


In another Friday interview with The Independent, al-Tous spoke in favor of political negotiations toward a two-state solution in order to “prevent bloodshed on both sides.”

He urged,
1. unity within the Palestinian national movement,
2. calling on Hamas to reconcile with Fatah
3. and accept the leadership of Abbas, now 89 years old

From: The Times of Israel February 2, 2025
Israeli PM welcomed by US honor guard, Israeli diplomats as he disembarks Wing of Zion

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lands at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and steps down the stairs from Wing of Zion on a chilly overcast day, where he is welcomed on a red carpet by Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, UN Ambassador Danny Danon, and
Consul General to NY Ofir Akunis.

An honor guard greets him as well, bearing American and Israeli flags.

Netanyahu heads to Washington to meet Trump, hoping to ‘redraw’ Middle East

Immediate issue is future of hostage-release ceasefire deal in Gaza war;
PM says working closely with US president, ‘we can strengthen security, broaden the circle of peace’

Netanyahu’s first high-level meeting will be on Monday with special envoy Steve Witkoff, ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left on Sunday for Washington, where he is to meet later this week with US President Donald Trump, declaring before boarding his flight that cooperation with the new administration could redraw the Middle East.

Netanyahu said his meetings in the US capital
1. “will deal with important, critical issues facing Israel and the region —
2. victory over Hamas,
3. achieving the release of all our hostages
4. and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components,
5. an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East, and the entire world.”

Speaking in English before boarding the plane, he said that the fact that he is the first foreign leader to meet Trump in the White House since the latter’s inauguration is:
1. “a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance.
2. It’s also a testimony to the strength of our personal friendship.”

Netanyahu declared alongside the state’s official plane, Wing of Zion, which took him to Washington:

“The decisions we’ve made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East,”
“Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map But at what cost
1. sacrifices,
2. horrifically wounded soldiers
3. and soldiers returning in coffins
4. what map?

But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further, and for the better.”
“I believe that we can strengthen security, broaden the circle of peace, and achieve a remarkable era of peace through strength,”

Saudi Arabia:
Netanyahu was apparently referring to ties with Saudi Arabia.

the Kan public broadcaster reported Saturday:
Israel is pushing for the establishment of a negotiating team to hold talks on official relations with the Gulf state, adding:
that the Trump administration wants to achieve peace between Jerusalem and Riyadh as part of the US president’s vision for a
“Golden age of peace in the Middle East.”

Saudi Arabia did not join the 2020 accords and has never recognized Israel.

Normalization with Saudi Arabia has been all but shelved due to the war in Gaza as well as Riyadh’s demands that Israel establish a diplomatic horizon for a future Palestinian state.

However, Trump said ahead of his return to the White House last month that he hoped to use the momentum of the Gaza ceasefire deal to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia.

Qatar:
US special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff has said that Qatar, which along with the US and Egypt, mediated the Gaza ceasefire, is also a candidate for normalization.

Abraham Accords:
The move would expand on the Abraham Accords, through which Israel established relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco during Trump’s first term in office.

From: Haaretz February 2, 2025
From Warm Embraces to 'F**k Him': How the Trump-Netanyahu Bromance Soured

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump in the White House on Tuesday, their complicated relationship will return to the spotlight. It has been anything but smooth sailing over the past eight years

The significance of U.S. President Donald Trump's red carpet rollout for Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday should not be lost on anyone.

From: The Times of Israel February 2, 2025

Speaking in English before boarding the plane, Netanyahu said that the fact that he is the first foreign leader to meet Trump in the White House since the latter’s inauguration is:
1. “a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance.
2. It’s also a testimony to the strength of our personal friendship.”

From: The Guardian February 3, 2025

Trump to,
1. stop future UNRWA funding,
2. withdraw from UN human rights council

Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order withdrawing the US from the UN human rights council and prohibiting future funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) Politico reports.

US funding to UNRWA was suspended in 2024 under Joe Biden’s administration, after Israel accused a handful of UNRWA employees of participating in the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023

A series of investigations, including one led by the French former foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some “neutrality related issues” at UNRWA – but emphasised Israel had not provided evidence for its headline allegation.


Trump’s first administration cut funding to the agency in 2018 before the Biden administration restarted it again in 2021 and suspended it, in 2024

Donald Trump’s first administration withdrew the US from the UN’s human rights council in 2018 and the Biden administration rejoined the body three years later.

According to Politico, Trump is expected to sign an executive order today once again withdrawing the US from the human rights body.

A fact sheet by the White House, obtained by the outlet, says the UN’s human rights council “has not fulfilled its purpose and continues to be used as a protective body for countries committing horrific human rights violations” and condemned its stance on Israel.

the document reportedly says: “The UNHRC has,
1. demonstrated consistent bias against Israel,
2. focusing on it unfairly and disproportionately, in council proceedings,”

In 2018 the year President Trump withdrew from the UNHRC in his first administration, the organization passed more resolutions condemning Israel than Syria, Iran, and North Korea combined.

From: The Times of Israel February 3, 2025
Gaza must be demilitarised before it is rebuilt, says Former IDF chief

The Gaza Strip must be demilitarised before it is rebuilt, says former deputy prime minister and IDF chief Benny Gantz.

the former war cabinet minister tells reporters ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset:
1. The transition to phase two of the hostage deal must include the replacement of the Hamas regime and the demilitarization of Gaza,
2. The reconstruction efforts in Gaza must be conditioned on the replacement of the Hamas regime.
3. Either Gaza will be demilitarized – or it will remain demolished.
4. That must be the condition for reconstruction, in coordination with the United States and the world.

Gantz insists that Israel must ensure that Hamas is not able to access humanitarian aid meant for Gazan civilians and argues that
“even after the Hamas regime is replaced, it will remain the strongest military force in Gaza – we must not allow for that to happen.”

He argues:
“Once it is replaced and is cut off from its financial sources, we must hunt every Hamas terrorist in every last tunnel and hideout,”

He adds: that it is now also time “to dismantle the Iranian nuclear project.”

We must not miss the opportunity: "That is what real victory means.” and all of this can happen in the next few months:
1. Coordination with the Americans is crucial…
2. We must continue bringing our hostages home,
3. dismantle Hamas,
4. weaken Iran
5. and advance normalization with Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries –

Why didn't he?
He had 7 months, until June 2024 when he exited the Israeli War Cabinet, to achieve: "That is what real victory means.”

Netanyahu took to X in the wake of Gantz’s announcement, saying that this is the time to “join forces” rather than quit.

From: The Guardian February 3, 2025
Trump says ‘no guarantees’ Gaza ceasefire will hold, a day before Netanyahu visits White House –

The US president, Donald Trump, has said he is not sure whether the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will hold.

Trump told reporters on Monday, a day before he is due to meet with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the White House: “I have no guarantees that the peace is going to hold,”

Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, added: It’s holding so far, so we’re certainly hopeful.

Qatar: We’re counting on Trump to stand behind efforts to reach the second phase of truce

From: The Guardian February 3, 2025

The Trump administration has asked congressional leaders to approve new transfers of roughly $1bn worth of bombs and other military hardware to Israel, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The planned weapons sales include 4,700 1,000-pound bombs, worth more than $700m, as well as armored bulldozers built by Caterpillar, worth more than $300m, the outlet reports, citing US officials.

The new arms requests come as Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is visiting Washington and set to meet the US president, Donald Trump, on Tuesday to discuss the ceasefire in Gaza, a separate truce in Lebanon and tensions in the wider Middle East region.

From: The Jerusalem Post February 3, 2025

Walking the tightrope: Netanyahu's goals in Washington DC
Israeli officials would like to reach a consensus with Trump on the talks and the question of the resumption of fighting.

On Monday in Washington, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, a meeting that was described as starting negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.

The negotiations are set for around the midpoint of the current first phase of the deal, during which 33 hostages will be released.

Contrary to the descriptor of the meeting, one of the main options on the table right now is an extension of phase one – meaning,
1. the continuation of the release of three to four Israeli hostages every week,
2. while Israel releases Palestinian security prisoners, some with blood on their hands, and holds up the ceasefire.

These talks and meetings come just as changes are being made to the mediation’s mechanism.

An Israeli official noted, “The hostage deal talks will be conducted in a completely different way than what we have seen until now.

We are returning to shuttle diplomacy, where Witkoff will be the main mediator. He will talk with the Israelis, Qataris, and Egyptians.”

But it is not just the mechanism that is changing;
it is also the personnel in the Israeli team who will lead the negotiations that is changing.

The negotiations until now: the delegation was headed by,
1. Mossad head David Barnea,
2. Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Ronen Bar,
3. and IDF Major-General (ret.) Nitzan Alon.

Going forward, the two figures that will take charge of the negotiations are,
1. Netanyahu himself and
2. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who has close ties to the Trump administration.

The way the Prime Minister’s Office explained the change is that since the phase two talks will be more diplomatic in nature, relating to,
1. the continuation or conclusion of the war in Gaza,
2. as well as the day after in the enclave,
3. all of which could influence a potential normalization deal with Saudi Arabia –
4. these particular talks will need to be handled by the diplomatic echelon, rather than the defensive one.

Critics note that Netanyahu’s decision to seize control of the negotiations could actually,
1. endanger phase two,
2. and may even affect the current phase one,
3. with the decisions made being “[necessarily] political.”

Netanyahu knows this meeting is crucial; Israeli officials would like to,
1. reach a consensus with Trump on the talks
2. and the question of the resumption of fighting.

A diplomatic source said, “Trump doesn’t like complicated ideas or ways to achieve goals.

Israel will need to convince the president that there is a way to release more hostages without ending the war… that’s the main goal of [Netanyahu] – to [lay out] a path that is fast and simple to achieve this goal.”

From: The Times of Israel February 3, 2025
Netanyahu meets with Elon Musk, Trump joins them

Benjamin Netanyahu meets with billionaire and Donald Trump adviser Elon Musk in Washington, according to multiple media reports.

A photograph making the round shows that Trump joined the pair, though he and Netanyahu are only set to officially sit down tomorrow.
It is not immediately clear where the three met.