Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington on Feb. 15

White House spokesman says relationship between Tel Aviv and Washington 'crucial to the security of both our nations'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump will host Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Feb. 15, the White House said Monday.

Announcing Netanyahu's upcoming visit, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the relationship between Tel Aviv and Washington was "crucial to the security of both our nations".

"The president looks forward to discussing continued strategic, technological, military, and intelligence cooperation with the prime minister," Spicer told reporters.

The meeting will come at a time when Trump is seeking to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that Netanyahu has long sought. But doing so would likely inflame tensions with Washington's Arab allies.

The matter was discussed during a meeting between Vice President Mike Pence and King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday morning, the White House said.

Abdullah's Hashemite Kingdom is the guardian of Jerusalem's holy sites under a 1994 peace treaty with Israel.

Kaynak: