Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a request by the White House to allow President Isaac Herzog to attend the launch ceremony of President Trump's Gaza Board of Peace on Thursday in Davos, Axios reported on Saturday, citing two sources familiar with the details.
According to diplomatic sources, US officials approached the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday and Wednesday, proposing that Herzog represent Israel, sit on stage with the other leaders, and sign the Board of Peace charter.
Netanyahu refused and effectively vetoed Herzog’s participation, according to Axios. The PM argued that Trump had addressed the invitation to him personally, not to president.
Israel’s absence, the sources said, created the impression that Jerusalem was not fully aligned with the Trump peace plan.
Ultimately, the White House chose not to escalate the dispute, the sources said.
Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff preferred to focus their pressure on Netanyahu regarding the opening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza rather than Herzog’s attendance.
Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Israel on Saturday evening for a meeting with Netanyahu expected to center on the Rafah border crossing.
Netanyahu did not travel to Davos due to the International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against him, but Herzog was present at the forum.
