Report: Trump okayed top House Republican meeting Netanyahu in Samaria, talks on Israeli annexation

Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirms Netanyahu met with House Speaker Mike Johnson in Samaria, amid reports Johnson discussed Israeli plans to annex parts of Judea and Samaria during trip approved by the White House.

By World Israel News Staff

The White House reportedly gave its approval to a high-level congressional delegation’s visit to Samaria this week, during which lawmakers met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed the possible application of Israeli sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria.

On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson led a congressional delegation in a visit to Samaria, marking the highest-profile American visit to Israeli towns beyond the pre-1967 Green Line.

The delegation included five House Republicans, a governor, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and the president of the US Israel Education Association.

A day later, the Prime Minister’s Office revealed that Netanyahu met with Johnson during the visit, in a gathering that took place at a Jewish winery in Shiloh in Samaria, north of Jerusalem.

According to a statement by the PMO, Netanyahu and his wife were invited to a joint dinner attended by Ambassador Mike Huckabee and his wife; Members of Congress Mike Johnson, Michael McCaul, Claudia Tenney, Michael Cloud and Nathaniel Moran; and Yesha Council chairman and head of Binyamin Regional Council Israel Ganz.

During the dinner, the US lawmakers also met with Ditza Or, the mother of the hostage Avinatan Or.

According to a report Tuesday by Israel Hayom, the House Speaker’s visit to Samaria lasted an entire working day, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and was given a green light by the White House.

During the 11-hour visit, Johnson spoke with Israeli officials about plans for the possible application of Israeli sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria, and was even reportedly shown maps of the areas considered for inclusion in the plan.

The report also claimed that during the event, Netanyahu told Speaker Johnson that Israel has “no choice but to achieve a military victory in Gaza,” amid widespread claims in the Israeli media that the Israeli premier has decided to pursue the takeover of the entire Gaza Strip.