US President Donald Trump has confirmed on Twitter that he has spoken to his Israeli counterpart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the prospects of signing a mutual defence treaty, Trend reports citing Sputnik.
Saying such a pact would "further anchor the tremendous alliance between our two countries," Trump said he looked "forward to continuing those discussions after the Israeli Elections," during a meeting at the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Trump's comments follow a report by Haaretz earlier this month that aides to the Israeli prime minister have been lobbying their US counterparts to get the White House to make a verbal commitment to protect Israel from any future existential threat before the signing of a formal mutual defence pact. According to the newspaper, Tel Aviv was looking to assure a 'grand presidential gesture' from Trump to boost Netanyahu's electoral prospects during upcoming Israeli legislative elections on September 17.