Israeli PM says his country is working to counter what he called ‘radical Shia axis’ and ’emerging radical Sunni axis’.

Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, DC, this week, Israel has taken a series of sweeping steps to tighten its grip on the occupied West Bank.

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Israel has joined U.S. President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" initiative, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday during his visit to Washington where he met Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

President Donald Trump met privately with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and says he pushed Israel to back continued U.S. talks with Iran on a nuclear deal.

Again.” That was a headline in The New York Times above my friend Tom Friedman’s very insightful — as usual — column about the latest chapter in Middle East intrigue

During Wednesday’s meeting, which was closed to the press, Netanyahu was expected to push Trump to widen negotiations with Iran beyond its nuclear program, including imposing restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and ending Iranian support for Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that he plans to speak with President Donald Trump about Iran and Gaza during their upcoming meeting.

President Trump is focused on Iran’s nuclear program, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees a more immediate threat from Tehran’s rapid rebuilding of its ability to launch missiles at Israel.