Trump to meet Israeli Prime Minister in Florida on Friday

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said on Tuesday, a sign the two men are looking to improve ties.

"Looking forward to welcoming Bibi Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida," the former US president said in a post on Truth Social, using Netanyahu's nickname.

The meeting will be their first since the end of Trump's presidency, during which the two forged close ties, and comes at a time of strains also between Netanyahu and Democratic President Joe Biden over Israel's war against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.

Late on Tuesday, Trump posted a letter written to him by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from a day after the former US president had been shot at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Abbas wished Trump "strength and safety," according to the letter Trump posted. In the same post Trump also said that he looked forward to meeting Netanyahu and working toward achieving peace in the Middle East.

Netanyahu had angered Trump when he congratulated Biden on his victory over Trump in the 2020 election. Trump has falsely claimed the election was stolen from him by voter fraud.

Netanyahu had requested the in-person meeting with Trump during his visit this week to Washington, Politico said on Monday. The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters