Netanyahu Visits Washington: Implications for Regional Diplomacy and Security

Next week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will return to the White House for the first foreign leader visit of the second Trump administration. The meeting comes at a time of tremendous opportunity for Israel and the Middle East, but also high risk. Nascent ceasefires are holding in Lebanon and Gaza, giving Israel the opportunity to transition from high-intensity military operations to diplomacy and thereby turn battlefield successes into lasting political achievements. In Iran, the regime is vulnerable after months of military setbacks, opening a window to decisively address its illicit nuclear program. And in the Gulf, the prospect of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia is still on the table. How can Trump and Netanyahu seize these critical opportunities in 2025 to help stabilize the region and set it on a more peaceful path?
To discuss these issues, The Washington Institute is pleased to host a virtual Policy Forum with David Makovsky, Mira Resnick, and Amos Harel, moderated by Institute executive director Robert Satloff.
David Makovsky is the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow and director of the Koret Project on Arab-Israel Relations at The Washington Institute. Previously, he served as senior advisor to the U.S. special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Mira Resnick is former deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli and Palestinian affairs and Arabian Peninsula affairs. Previously, she oversaw the department’s Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers. She has also served as a senior professional staff member with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, focusing on the Middle East and North Africa.
Amos Harel has worked as a senior analyst with Haaretz for nearly three decades, becoming one of Israel’s leading experts on military and defense issues.