Trump’s dinner with Netanyahu: Motion without movement

A much-touted meeting between US President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, their third encounter this year, apparently failed to move the needle on a Gaza ceasefire, despite both men expressing optimism that an agreement was only days away.

Messrs. Trump and Netanyahu went to dinner with differing expectations. Mr. Trump wanted a ceasefire and would likely have wanted to announce it with Mr. Netanyahu by his side, while Mr. Netanyahu preferred to bask in the limelight, hoping it would boost his struggling popularity at home.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu probably just want(ed) to take a victory lap and not have to agree on anything that risks his own political standing,” said Rachel Brandenburg, the Washington managing director at the Israel Policy Forum.

Ultimately, Mr. Trump gave the prime minister what he wanted in the expectation that it would help Mr. Netanyahu domestically. Earlier, Mr. Trump sought to support Mr. Netanyahu by demanding that Israel’s judiciary drop its corruption charges against the prime minister.