Israeli media say Netanyahu entered White House through back entrance amid protests

Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered the White House through a rear entrance on Wednesday as pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered nearby ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The newspaper Yediot Aharonot said the meeting between the two leaders had begun at the White House, adding that chants from protesters could be heard in the area. It reported that a pro-Palestinian demonstration was taking place near the building at the same time.

Haaretz also reported that Netanyahu used a back entrance and that no official photographs were taken upon his arrival.

According to Israeli media, discussions between the two leaders are expected to focus primarily on Iran, while also addressing developments in the Gaza Strip.

Reports suggest that Netanyahu is likely to urge Trump to avoid what Israeli officials describe as a narrow agreement with Iran limited solely to the nuclear issue, advocating instead for broader terms that would also address Tehran’s ballistic missile programme.

The meeting marks the sixth encounter between Netanyahu and Trump in the United States since Trump began his second presidential term in January last year, according to the reports.

Netanyahu had originally been scheduled to meet Trump next week during the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). However, Israeli media cited a source familiar with the matter as saying the Israeli prime minister requested that the meeting be brought forward due to the commencement of renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

On Tuesday evening, Israel’s Channel 12 quoted Trump as saying that any agreement with Iran must go beyond the nuclear issue and also address its ballistic missile capabilities. “We can reach an excellent agreement with Iran,” Trump reportedly said, adding that he expects a second round of US-Iran talks to take place next week.