🔴 Urgent | Israeli Media on Netanyahu’s Last-Minute Cancellation of Sharm El-Sheikh Visit: Cairo Responds, “The Summit is for Peace”
The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided at the last moment not to travel to Sharm El-Sheikh to participate in the international peace summit aimed at ending the war in Gaza, despite an earlier official announcement from Egypt confirming his attendance.
The newspaper noted that Israel was not originally invited to the summit. However, following a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the Israeli Knesset, a trilateral call was held between Trump, Netanyahu, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, resulting in the announcement of Netanyahu’s participation.
The Prime Minister’s office justified the cancellation citing the proximity of Jewish holidays and concerns over potential backlash from Haredi parties, which oppose travel during the holiday period. Additional concerns included the possibility of Netanyahu meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas or Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Domestic Political Considerations and Tense Relations
The newspaper highlighted that Netanyahu recently returned from a foreign visit last Saturday, suggesting that “Sabbath or holiday restrictions are not always a strict red line.” It argued that the deeper reason for the cancellation was to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation, including facing criticisms over the two-state solution or possible war crimes in Gaza, in addition to tensions in the relationship with El-Sisi following the October 7, 2023 attack.
Such developments could affect Netanyahu’s domestic political calculations and deepen divisions within his governing coalition.
Cairo: The Summit is for Peace
The Egyptian Presidency stated that the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit aims to end the war in Gaza, promote peace and stability in the Middle East, and discuss reconstruction plans for the sector, as part of what was described as Trump’s vision for achieving regional peace.
Around 20 countries are expected to attend, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Indonesia, and Pakistan, along with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
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Israeli Prime Minister cancels his visit to Sharm El-Sheikh for the Gaza peace summit
