Israel lobbying Trump to visit during Middle East trip

Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter recently proposed to the White House that President Trump add a short stop in Israel during his trip to the Middle East, which starts Monday, two Israeli officials tell Axios.The intrigue: Israeli strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will visit Washington on Wednesday with the potential stop in Israel likely on the agenda, the Israeli officials say.Trump's current agenda is a three-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.Behind the scenes: Dermer is expected to meet senior officials at the White House and State Department, including diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State and national security adviser Marco Rubio.They're expected to discuss nuclear talks with Iran and the war in Gaza, and to coordinate positions ahead of Trump's meetings with Gulf leaders in Saudi Arabia.The Israeli embassy said it "does not comment on private discussions with the U.S. administration." Dermer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Driving the news: Israel has set the end of Trump's visit to the region as its deadline for a new hostage and ceasefire deal, with a massive ground operation to commence if no new hostage and ceasefire deal is reached.Witkoff told Axios on Monday that he hopes there will be progress in the efforts to reach such a deal before or during the trip."I hope we make progress. I hope we get everyone out. I talk to Qatar, Egypt, and Israel almost every day. President Trump wants to get the hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to get the hostages. We are working in a concerted way," Witkoff said.The big picture: Witkoff said the U.S. was trying to schedule the fourth round of nuclear talks with Iran for this weekend. "If it doesn't happen it's only because of the president's trip to the Middle East," he said.Iranian media outlets reported Tuesday that the fourth round would take place on Sunday in Oman. Witkoff noted the nuclear talks with Iran had been positive. "We are making some progress. I hope it is moving in the right direction. The president wants to see this solved diplomatically if possible, so we're doing everything we can to get it going," he said.What to watch: A ceasefire deal in Gaza might make a Trump stop in Israel more likely.

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