Trump, Netanyahu Extend Lovefest in Davos

Following three days of warmth and fuzziness between the Trump and Netanyahu administrations brought to Israel by Vice President Mike Pence, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet while both leaders are in Davos, Switzerland, to address the World Economic Forum. The two men will review strategies on issues including the Iranian nuclear deal and whether there is still some semblance of a peace process after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s summary dismissal of any peace process overseen by the United States. What measures will be used to convince the Palestinians to continue to participate will no doubt figure into the talks as will the possibility of greater European involvement, which Abbas and the Palestinians seem to want. The tête-a-tête will mark the fourth time Trump and Netanyahu have met since the beginning of the Trump presidency. President Trump has said the Iranian nuclear deal must be “fixed” by a certain date or the levying of new sanctions will commence. Iranian leaders have issue angry reactions to the Trump promise and threaten countermeasures of their own. The Kremlin has announced that Prime Minister Netanyahu will again fly to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 29.