Netanyahu stops Israel’s president from joining Trump’s Peace Board launch - Axios

According to two sources, Netanyahu argued that the invitation from the US leader was addressed to him, not to Herzog. As a result, the prime minister vetoed the president’s participation in the event, and Herzog did not attend.

The US, for its part, had hoped that the presence of an Israeli official at the event would show that the Peace Board and Trump’s plans for Gaza had broad support from both Arab and Muslim leaders (who attended the event) as well as from Israel. However, Israel’s absence gave the impression that it did not fully support the idea.

The White House sent invitations to 58 countries. The invitation stated that each country could send its head of state or government, or an authorized representative, to the event.

However, Netanyahu did not attend the World Economic Forum in Davos because an arrest warrant had been issued by the International Criminal Court.

Sources say that on Tuesday and Wednesday, the White House contacted the office of the Israeli prime minister and suggested that Herzog represent Israel, attend alongside other leaders, and sign the charter of the Peace Board. However, Netanyahu rejected the request and effectively vetoed Herzog’s participation.

Axios sources also shared further details of the negotiations with Netanyahu. According to them, some phone calls were tense and difficult.

On Wednesday evening, January 21, the White House was still hoping to find a solution. Attempts to resolve the issue continued for several hours until the start of the ceremony on Thursday, but Netanyahu remained adamant in his refusal.

One source said the incident created tension between the prime minister’s and the president’s offices, as well as between Netanyahu and the White House.

In the end, the Trump administration decided not to go to war with Netanyahu. Instead, US presidential advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff preferred to focus pressure on opening the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

Peace Board

So far, only about two dozen relatively minor countries have joined US President Donald Trump’s widely advertised Peace Board. For what this instrument was created and what it has to do with Ukraine, read the RBC-Ukraine article.

The EU has questioned Trump’s peace initiative. Diplomats point to the dangerous concentration of powers and the fact that the Peace Board charter does not comply with international norms.

In addition, billionaire Elon Musk publicly mocked Trump’s approach to resolving global conflicts. He questioned the effectiveness of the mechanism created.