Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he would not be attending the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, due to limited time ahead of the Jewish holiday Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah, which begins tonight.
Although earlier reports suggested Netanyahu had accepted an invitation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to join the high-level diplomatic gathering, his office later clarified that he would not be traveling. According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu made the decision while present in the Knesset Chamber with US President Donald Trump, during a conversation with President al-Sisi.
In a statement shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), the Prime Minister’s Office noted that Trump also extended an invitation to Netanyahu for the summit. However, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude and declined, citing scheduling conflicts related to the upcoming religious observance.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited by US President Donald Trump to attend today’s conference in Egypt. The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for the invitation but said he will be unable to attend due to time constraints ahead of the start of the holiday,” the statement read.
Traditionally, Israeli leaders avoid official travel during major Jewish holidays or the Sabbath, unless exceptional national circumstances arise, according to The Times of Isreal
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