By Pesach Benson • 6 April, 2025

Jerusalem, 6 April, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Washington for high-stakes talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, marking the first visit by a foreign leader aimed at negotiating relief from sweeping new American tariffs.

Netanyahu’s office confirmed he would fly directly to Washington from Budapest, where he held talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

“The two will discuss the tariff issue, the efforts to return our hostages, Israel-Turkey relations, the Iranian threat and the battle against the International Criminal Court,” the Netanyahu’s office said.

The visit comes just days after the Trump administration announced global tariffs, affecting nearly every U.S. trading partner, including Israel.

About 98% of U.S. goods are already tax-free under the 40-year-old Israel-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, but the remaining 2% became a target under Trump’s new policy. In a bid to mitigate the impact, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed an order on Wednesday eliminating the last remaining Israeli tariffs on U.S. imports, valued at $11.3 million annually, mostly on agricultural products. However, the order requires approval from the Knesset Finance Committee before taking effect.

“The Prime Minister appreciates the personal and warm ties with President Trump and thanks him for the invitation to be the first leader to meet with him following the imposition of global tariffs,” Netanyahu’s office said.

Netanyahu will also discuss the issue of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

Netanyahu was visiting Budapest, where he held talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Among the issues discussed were efforts to bring home Omri Miran, a Hungarian-Israeli dual citizen. The last sign of life from the 46-year-old Miran was in February when a released hostage told the family he had been with Miran until July.

Before departing on Sunday, Netanyahu thanked Hungary for supporting Israel on the international stage.

“It defends us in the European Union, it defends us in the UN, and no less than that, in the corrupt International Criminal Court in The Hague,” Netanyahu said. “The ICC is directed against all of us—against IDF soldiers, IDF commanders and the State of Israel.”

He hailed Hungary’s recent decision to withdraw from the ICC as “a sign of things to come.” Netanyahu and Orban also discussed joint weapons production.

The trip marks Netanyahu’s second visit to Washington since Trump returned to the White House in January.

It is believed Netanyahu will return to Israel on Tuesday.

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.