New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented US President Donald Trump with an unusual gift, a golden pager, alongside a regular pager during a White House meeting on Tuesday.
This seemingly odd present served as a symbolic reference to Israel’s highly successful September operation targeting Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, The Jerusalem Post reported. President Trump, in acknowledging the gift, expressed his approval, stating, “That Was A Great Operation.”
The operation involved the detonation of thousands of pagers containing explosives, planted by Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency months in advance. The blasts, occurring on September 17th and 18th, resulted in the deaths of at least 39 Hezbollah members and injuries to approximately 3,000 others. A similar attack on walkie-talkies followed, causing further casualties. Netanyahu later confirmed his authorization of the operation.
In return, President Trump presented Netanyahu with a photograph of their meeting, inscribed “To Bibi, a great leader.”
Netanyahu’s visit to Washington focused on the Gaza ceasefire, the Middle East peace process, and bilateral relations. Following the meeting with Trump, the US President outlined an ambitious plan to assume control of the Gaza Strip, deploying American troops if deemed necessary. Trump’s plan envisages the removal of unexploded ordnance, rebuilding of the area, and creating economic opportunities to provide jobs and housing for Gazans.
Netanyahu lauded Trump as Israel’s “greatest friend ever,” emphasising the strong bond between the two nations. He expressed his appreciation for Trump’s role in securing the release of hostages, hailing the President’s innovative approach to solving complex geopolitical issues. Netanyahu suggested that Trump’s Gaza plan could have a transformative impact, urging the international community to pay attention to the proposed initiative. He highlighted Trump’s willingness to challenge conventional thinking, demonstrating a fresh approach to the seemingly intractable Middle East conflicts.
