Trump will meet with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, at the White House on Tuesday, the office of the Israeli prime minister said in a statement.

- Axios reporter Barak Ravid

Why it matters: Since Trump returned to power 1.5 years ago, Netanyahu has met with him six times in the White House’s Oval Office—more than any other world leader. But Netanyahu currently has little popularity in Washington, among Democrats, Trump’s inner circle, and the mega base.

Trump is considering resuming large-scale military operations against Iran, which would likely include a joint military campaign with Israel, similar to the start of the “Epic Fury” operation on February 28. The meeting with Netanyahu could be important for Trump’s decision-making and for coordination between the two countries.

The fact that Netanyahu is coming to Washington next week could be a sign that no significant escalation in the fighting will occur before then.

However: In previous rounds of tensions with Iran, both the U.S. and Israel had informed people in advance about high-level visits—actions that were part of efforts to deceive and divert ahead of military attacks against Iran.

What they say: The office of the Israeli prime minister said in a statement: “At the invitation of President Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington for an official visit on Monday. During this trip, the prime minister will meet with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday and will also attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham.”

What happened: Netanyahu raised a request to meet with Trump last week, but was not able to secure an appointment. He then said he decided to postpone his trip because the memorial service for the late Senator Lindsey Graham had been postponed.

Some White House officials said last week that Netanyahu had tried to make the meeting happen “one way or another.”

On Wednesday, a White House official told Axios that discussions had taken place about the possibility of holding the meeting in the Oval Office, but emphasized that no meeting had yet been finalized.

On Thursday, Trump told Axios that he would meet with Netanyahu if he is in the city for Graham’s memorial service.

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