WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to be “very firm” in his stance on ending the war in Gaza when he meets next week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The remarks by the president, made during a tour of a migrant detention center in Florida, came after he said earlier that he was hoping for a truce in the nearly 21-month conflict by “sometime next week.”
The Republican leader is set to host Netanyahu at the White House on July 7 and the swift resolution of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran has revived hopes for a halt to the Gaza fighting.
Almost relentless combat in the Palestinian territory since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel has created dire humanitarian conditions for the population of more than two million.
Trump was asked Tuesday by reporters if a ceasefire could be in place before Netanyahu’s visit.
“We hope it’s going to happen, and we’re looking for it to happen sometime next week,” he said before departing for Florida.
Trump has previously urged Israel to “make the deal in Gaza,” but on the ground, Israel has continued to pursue its offensive across the Palestinian territory.
The end of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran — which followed a US bombing mission on Tehran’s nuclear sites — has provided a window of opportunity for a deal, with Trump keen to add another peace agreement to a series of recent deals he has brokered.
Asked at the detention center how firm he will be with Netanyahu on ending the war, Trump replied: “Very firm.”
“But he wants it too.... He wants to end it too,” Trump added.
The visit next Monday will be Netanyahu’s third since Trump returned to power in January, and comes on the heels of the US president making a rare intervention into domestic Israeli politics.
Trump appeared over the weekend to threaten US aid to Israel as he called in a social media post for prosecutors to drop long-running corruption charges against Netanyahu.
Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to visit Trump in his second term in February, when the US president surprised him by suddenly announcing a plan for the United States to “take over” Gaza.
The Israeli premier visited again in April.
Trump vows ‘firm’ stance with Netanyahu on ending Gaza war
https://arab.news/bycmg
Trump vows ‘firm’ stance with Netanyahu on ending Gaza war
- Asked at the detention center how firm he will be with Netanyahu on ending the war, Trump replied: “Very firm”
- The visit next Monday will be Netanyahu’s third since Trump returned to power in January
Saudi Arabia needs local talent to build modern financial oversight, minister says
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia must invest in national talent alongside regulatory reforms to build a modern financial oversight system, Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said.
Speaking at the Financial Oversight Forum, Al-Jadaan said developing an effective oversight framework requires sustained investment in human capabilities through training and development programs.
This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to build future-ready skills, including the launch of the National Skills Platform in April to equip the workforce with capabilities aligned with global trends.
It also comes as the Kingdom’s financial ecosystem reached a record SR1 trillion ($267 billion) in locally managed assets in 2024, marking a key milestone in its transformation under Vision 2030.
“Institutions don't advance through systems alone, but also through the culture of their employees,” Al-Jadaan said during his speech.
During the forum, the minister said the Financial Control System represents a fundamental shift in oversight methodology, strengthening the legislative framework governing financial operations in government entities through a more flexible and comprehensive model focused on protecting public funds, Argaam reported.
He added that the new system enhances technical oversight by leveraging government financial systems and data to support continuous monitoring, while also enabling early detection and effective management of risks.
Al-Jadaan said Saudi Arabia continues to make significant progress toward the objectives of Vision 2030, with public finance management and oversight serving as a cornerstone for improving the efficiency and sustainability of government performance.
He also emphasized the vital role played by the General Auditing Bureau, noting its professional efforts to develop oversight practices and raise levels of financial discipline, contributing to integrated oversight and more efficient public spending.
In a post on X, the minister said: “I was pleased to participate in the Financial Oversight Forum organized by the General Auditing Bureau, which reflects the importance of developing the financial oversight system to protect public funds and enhance governance and financial discipline, thereby supporting the sustainability of public finances and aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.”
He added: “I also commend the bureau’s pivotal role and its professional efforts in developing oversight practices, including this forum.”
