Trump envoy Witkoff to visit Israel for talks with Netanyahu

A senior envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit Israel this week for high-level meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s military chief, Israeli officials said on February 2.

The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions with Iran and as the Trump administration seeks to advance plans to end the ongoing Gaza conflict, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Israeli officials described Witkoff’s meetings as preparatory, potentially paving the way for renewed diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Iran. They follow a weekend meeting in Washington between Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir and his U.S. counterpart, General Dan Caine.

The visit coincides with signals from both Washington and Tehran that talks over Iran’s long-running nuclear programme could resume soon.

The prospect of diplomacy comes amid fears of a wider regional escalation, following a recent U.S. military buildup near Iran and the country’s deadliest domestic unrest in decades after a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

The U.S. administration has emphasised its dual focus on de-escalating tensions with Iran while seeking a resolution to the Gaza conflict, with Witkoff’s visit expected to underscore these efforts.

By Aghakazim Guliyev