Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his latest White House meeting with President Donald Trump reaffirmed the close partnership between the United States and Israel as the two leaders discussed Iran, Gaza, regional security and expanding the Abraham Accords.
The meeting, their first face-to-face since the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, focused heavily on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while also addressing the future of Gaza, security in Lebanon and broader Middle East stability.
Speaking with The National News Desk, former Shiloh Mayor and Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund President David Rubin said continued coordination between Washington and Jerusalem is critical at a time of heightened regional tensions.
“Netanyahu and Trump—or more broadly Israel and the United States—it’s always a question of communication,” Rubin said. “The commonality of values is very strong, rooted in the Judeo-Christian heritage.”
Rubin said the alliance extends beyond shared democratic institutions to intelligence cooperation, diplomacy and regional security.
“Israel is the United States’ strongest ally when it comes to standing by the United States and working together in partnership,” he said. “All the intelligence sharing—and obviously we benefit as well. So it’s a great partnership.”
Rubin said the timing of the meeting was particularly significant as the Trump administration evaluates its next steps toward Iran.
“It’s important for Trump to be up to date on all the intelligence that we have in our hands and to communicate with Netanyahu,” Rubin said. “If we’re coordinated and we’re in partnership, then we really can’t be defeated.”
The discussion also turned to controversy surrounding New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has said he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested if the Israeli leader returns to New York for the United Nations General Assembly this fall.
Mamdani’s comments have drawn criticism from political opponents and others who argue they would undermine relations with a key U.S. ally.
Rubin sharply criticized Mamdani’s remarks, arguing they send the wrong message to Israel and Jewish communities.
“There’s no legal basis for that to happen,” Rubin said. “He’s siding with the International Criminal Court, which the United States doesn’t even recognize because it’s a corrupt institution that has no international standing.”
Rubin also criticized Mamdani’s political ideology, using the interview to argue against socialism based on Israel’s own historical experience.
“The founders of the country were socialists,” Rubin said. “They created a socialist system here, and it was a disaster.”
He said Israel’s economy improved after transitioning toward a freer market decades ago.
“We left the socialist system about 45 years ago,” Rubin said. “Since then we have a roaring free-market economy. We’re a high-tech leader in the world, and we’re doing that through competition and hard work.”
Rubin said he believes that experience offers lessons for Americans debating the role of government in the economy.
President Trump has previously said Netanyahu would not be arrested while visiting the United States. Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly later this year.
The White House meeting and the political debate surrounding Netanyahu’s planned visit come as the United States and Israel continue coordinating on Iran, regional security and broader Middle East policy amid ongoing diplomatic and military challenges.