President Isaac Herzog met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his trip to Washington. The president emphasized the importance of the trip as a significant step toward advancing a deal to return the hostages, and also expressed hope that the diplomatic effort might also open the door to significant regional developments. In addition, the two discussed the opportunity to deepen ties with other countries. Regarding the possible costs of a deal, the president clarified that he does not take the potential prices lightly and understands the concerns - but he is confident that the cabinet and security establishment will know how to deal with the challenges.

