TEL AVIV, Dec 1 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House in the “near future,” the prime minister’s office said on Monday, shortly after Trump said Israel should maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria.

A visit to the White House would be the Israeli prime minister’s fifth since Trump returned to office in January. The two leaders have publicly projected a close relationship, although American and Israeli sources have said Trump has at times expressed frustration with Netanyahu.

The prime minister’s office said Netanyahu and Trump discussed the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza. Trump announced a plan to end the Gaza war in September and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in effect since October.

Trump promotes dialogue between Israel and Syria

In this photograph released by the press office of the Syrian Presidency, President Donald Trump (left) shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, on November 10, 2025.
In this photograph released by the press office of the Syrian Presidency, President Donald Trump (left) shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, on November 10, 2025.

Syrian Presidency Press Office via News

Trump previously said in a statement that it was very important for Israel to maintain a “strong and true dialogue” with neighboring Syria, and that “nothing is happening to interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous state.”

“Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together,” said Trump, whose administration is trying to negotiate a non-aggression pact between the two states.

Syria does not formally recognize Israel, which has occupied more Syrian territory since December 2024. It occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967 and later annexed it, a move recognized by the United States but not most other countries.

Trump has backed Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, while Israel has expressed hostility over its past ties to Islamist militancy and has pressured Washington to keep Syria weak.

An Israeli strike in southern Syria on Friday killed 13 Syrians, Syrian state media reported. The Israeli military said it had attacked a Lebanese Islamist militant group there.

The call with Trump also came a day after Netanyahu apologized to Israel’s president in his lengthy corruption trial. Trump has publicly expressed support for pardoning Netanyahu and sent a letter last month urging President Isaac Herzog to consider it.

The Prime Minister’s reading of the appeal made no mention of clemency. Israeli opposition politicians have come out against the request and called on Netanyahu to resign.