As President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in Washington this week, the two world leaders will seek to repair their often contested personal relationship as they discuss defense aid, as Israel faces increased threats from Palestinian terrorists.
This will be the first time Netanyahu has visited the United States since his highly criticized address in front of Congress in February regarding the Iranian nuclear deal. While Netanyahu lobbied the U.S. Congress to reject the deal, the United States has since passed it, drawing intense criticisms from Israel in the process.
While the American left has rallied around Obama and the nuclear deal, most of the GOP and many pro-Israel groups have turned against Obama's decisions and many liberals have criticized Netanyahu's hawkish views. Netanyahu's first stop will be a meeting with Obama in the Oval Office on Monday. Following that, the Israeli leader willI speak at the Center for American Progress on Tuesday, in an attempt to appease the American left.
As Israel has dealt with the international community in the wake of the Iranian nuclear deal, which they believe puts their country in great danger, they have also faced an increased wave of Palestinian violence that shows little signs of slowing down. In order to combat this recent wave of violence, Netanyahu will ask Obama for to commit to keep giving aid to Israel. Currently Israel receives over $3 billion in international aid per year, along with other money, such as cash for the Iron Dome missile defense system. While the current U.S.-Israeli monetary agreement is set through 2017, Netanyahu will ask for a significant increase.
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