US Defense Secretary Hegseth Holds Unannounced Talks with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

WASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held an unannounced meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Israel on Monday, according to Axios, which cited two sources familiar with the matter.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the trip. The Pentagon declined to comment, and Israel’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The reported visit follows President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of next week’s parliamentary election in Israel—the country’s first vote since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that destabilized the region and triggered war in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Polls suggest Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition may lose its governing majority, while opposition parties could also face difficulties forming a government.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu during an interview on Monday, stating he was not intervening in Israel’s elections.

“I endorse American candidates, and that is where my focus remains—the midterms,” Vance said in an interview with digital outlet 2WAY, noting that he had previously endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during Hungary’s election earlier this year.

“I am not anti-endorsing him, but I am not pro-endorsing him. I am not getting involved in Israeli elections,” Vance added.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Christian Martinez and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Caitlin Webber)

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