Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Jul 31: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned home on Thursday after a high-profile visit to Washington, where he secured public displays of support from US President Donald Trump and other senior American leaders, even as political analysts questioned the long-term impact of the trip ahead of Israel's general election.

Netanyahu, who faces elections on October 27, used the visit to reinforce his image as a leader capable of maintaining strong ties with the United States. During his stay, he met President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, senior Cabinet officials, lawmakers and pro-Israel groups.

Speaking after his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu said both leaders remained aligned on preventing Iran from developing a nuclear programme.

In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu said Israel and the United States shared the objective of ending Iran's nuclear ambitions, whether through a negotiated agreement, continued sanctions or military action if required.

However, reports indicated that differences remain over Washington's diplomatic approach towards Tehran. While the Trump administration has expressed optimism about negotiations with Iran, Israeli officials reportedly remain sceptical about the prospects of a lasting agreement.

Political observers noted that the visit also had a strong domestic dimension, with Netanyahu seeking to bolster his standing ahead of the upcoming elections.

Middle East analyst Aaron David Miller said Netanyahu hoped to demonstrate that he continued to enjoy strong backing in Washington, a key factor in Israeli domestic politics.

The visit also coincided with the presence of Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid in Washington. Lapid criticised Netanyahu for allowing relations with sections of the Democratic Party to deteriorate, arguing that Israel should maintain bipartisan support in the United States.

Netanyahu's meetings in Washington largely focused on Republican leaders and long-time supporters of Israel. Among Democratic lawmakers, he met only Senator John Fetterman, one of the party's strongest supporters of Israel.

Lapid, meanwhile, held discussions with several Democratic senators, including some who have recently criticised Israeli government policies.

During his US media interactions, Netanyahu also addressed declining public support for Israel in parts of the United States, attributing the trend to the influence of social media and online misinformation.

He said maintaining bipartisan American support remained essential for Israel's national security and acknowledged that changing public opinion was a matter of concern.

Netanyahu also criticised New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who has previously called for his arrest over Israel's actions in Gaza. Although Mamdani later acknowledged he lacked the authority to take such action, the issue has attracted attention amid growing criticism of Israel in parts of the US.

Despite projecting confidence during the visit, analysts said Netanyahu's diplomatic successes would ultimately be judged by developments in the Iran negotiations, the conflict in Gaza and the outcome of Israel's general election later this year.