Netanyahu holds phone call with Trump shortly after Syria warning

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump on Monday, the prime minister’s office said, shortly after Trump warned Israel against destabilizing Syria.

Netanyahu’s office said they discussed disarming Palestinian militant group Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip. They also discussed Israel establishing ties with countries that do not recognize it.

Trump also invited Netanyahu to meet at the White House in “the near future,” the prime minister’s office said, without specifying a date.

Earlier on Monday, Trump warned Israel against destabilizing Syria and its new leadership, days after a deadly operation by Israeli forces in the south of the country.

“It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Trump has been pushing for a security pact between Israel and Syria since Syrian opposition forces overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad a year ago.

But tensions have risen over hundreds of strikes by Israel on Syria. In the deadliest so far, Israeli forces killed 13 people on Friday in an operation in southern Syria, saying they targeted a militant group.

Trump said he was “very satisfied” with Syria’s performance under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who made a historic visit to the White House in November.

The US president said al-Sharaa “is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together.”

Trump added that the United States was “doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended” to rebuild the war-torn country.