Netanyahu to travel to Washington for Trump meeting, Lindsey Graham funeral

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to visit Washington on Tuesday for a meeting with President Trump and to attend the funeral service for Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a staunch Republican ally of Israel.

Mr. Netanyahu’s office said Friday that he will depart on Monday for the trip, which is being made at Mr. Trump’s invitation.

“During the visit, the Prime Minister will meet on Tuesday with President Trump at the White House and attend the funeral service for Senator Lindsey Graham, a friend of Israel,” the office said on social media.

Mr. Netanyahu will meet with Mr. Trump at a critical juncture in the Iran war.

The two leaders launched joint strikes against Iran, a fierce enemy of Israel, on Feb. 28 to prevent Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Iran retaliated by clamping down on commerce in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to energy shocks and a multimonth conflict that has involved cycles of violent attacks and attempts at peace negotiations.

Critics of the war say Mr. Netanyahu goaded Mr. Trump into the war, though the U.S. leader says he acted based on his own judgment and is the one calling the shots.

Mr. Trump is threatening to ramp up strikes on Iran if it does not get serious about negotiating a lasting peace and restraints on its nuclear program.

Mr. Graham was a longtime senator who died on July 11, likely from an aorta rupture.

He was a national security hawk who pushed for military action against Iran and the defense of Israel.

During his last days, Mr. Graham lobbied hard for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel as part of Mr. Trump’s Abraham Accords — an effort that remains a work in progress.

Mr. Trump, Mr. Netanyahu, lawmakers and other dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral at the National Cathedral in northwest Washington.