Israel’s Netanyahu won’t attend Egypt summit on ending Gaza war
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he declined to attend “due to the timing’s proximity to the beginning of (a Jewish) holiday”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
TEL AVIV - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the Oct 13 summit on ending the Gaza war in Egypt
In a statement, Mr Netanyahu’s office said he had been invited by US President Donald Trump to participate in the meeting of world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh but declined “due to the timing’s proximity to the beginning of (a Jewish) holiday”.
“The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his invitation and for his efforts to expand the circle of peace — peace through strength,” the statement said.
An Egyptian presidential spokesperson earlier said both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Netanyahu were expected to join the summit “to solidify the agreement to end the war in Gaza and reaffirm their commitment to it”.
The spokesperson also said Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi while they were in Israel on Oct 13. REUTERS
