In Washington, Rubio and Sa’ar discuss Trump’s plan for Gaza

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on Wednesday with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to discuss implementing President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza and broader Middle East security issues.

The two leaders also addressed situations in Syria and Lebanon during their talks in Washington, according to the State Department, “reaffirming their commitment to close collaboration in pursuit of peace and stability in the Middle East.”

For his part, Sa’ar thanked Rubio “for his support for Israel and longstanding friendship,” calling it a “good discussion on our mutual opportunities and challenges in the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and beyond.”

He highlighted Israel’s renewed relations with Bolivia as part of efforts to strengthen ties with Latin American nations and welcomed the Trump administration’s actions against the International Criminal Court.

Sa’ar on Monday dismissed incoming New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s vow to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he won’t engage in a “legal debate” with the mayor-elect, according to the New York Post.

Sa’ar told the Post that Mamdani’s repeated threats to have the NYPD arrest Netanyahu on an International Criminal Court warrant related to the Gaza war weren’t factored into the prime minister’s travel plans. “I will only say or repeat what the prime minister has said himself: He will come to New York.”

Sa’ar and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) discussed their “mutual commitment” to countering radical Islam and advancing Middle East peace during a meeting in Washington on Tuesday, according to a readout from Jerusalem.

“Always good to meet, dear friend,” Jerusalem’s top diplomat stated. “We appreciate the Senator’s friendship and unwavering support for Israel!”

The conversation with Graham was one of several diplomatic meetings Sa’ar convened with lawmakers during his Tuesday visit to Capitol Hill.