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, according to two sources familiar with the details.
Why it matters: The White House saw the launch of the Board of Peace as a key element in implementing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal and a one of they key action items for Trump in Davos.
- The White House wanted to have a senior Israeli official on stage with the other Arab and Muslim leaders to show that Trump's Gaza peace plan has broad support on both sides.
- Israel's absence created the impression that it is not 100% on board.
Driving the news: The White House sent invitation to 58 countries, including Israel, to join the Board of Peace.
- The invitation said that each country can send to the event its head of state or government or a representative they empower.
- Netanyahu did not travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos due to the International Criminal Court arrest warrant hanging over his head. But Israel's president Herzog attended the event.
- The sources said that on Tuesday and Wednesday, the White House approached the Israeli prime minister's office and suggested that Herzog will be Israel's representative, sit on stage with the other leaders and sign the Board of Peace charter.
- Netanyahu refused the request and effectively vetoed Herzog's participation, the sources said.
Behind the scenes: The sources said several phone call took place between senior White House officials and Netanyahu and his aides.
- Some of the calls were "tense and difficult," the sources said.
- On Wednesday evening, the White House still hoped a solution would be found that would allow Herzog to attend. Israel was one of 21 countries listed as participants in a list distributed by the White House on Wednesday night.
- The efforts to solve the issue continued until several hours before the ceremony on Thursday, but Netanyahu maintained his refusal and argued that Trump sent the invitation to him, and not to Herzog.
- One of the source said the episode created tensions between the prime minister's office and the president's office, as well as between the prime minister's office and the White House.
Between the lines: Ultimately, the White House decided not to go to war with Netanyahu over this issue, the sources said.
- Trump's advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff preferred to focus their pressure on Netanyahu on opening the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza and not on Herzog's participation in the ceremony.
- Witkoff and Kushner landed in Israel on Saturday evening for a meeting with Netanyahu that was expected to focus on the Rafah crossing issue.
What they're saying: The Prime Minister's Office, President Herzog's office and the White House all declined to comment.
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