image sourced from original article at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined an invitation to attend a major summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, citing the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. The summit, co-chaired by United States President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, aims to advance plans for Gaza and the wider region, with over 30 world leaders expected to attend, including Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Netanyahu's invitation was arranged during a ride with Trump from Ben Gurion Airport to the Knesset, but his office later announced he would not travel due to the holiday. The summit is intended to finalize an agreement to end the Gaza war and support the next phase of Trump's peace plan, which includes disarming Hamas and establishing new governance in Gaza.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is also set to visit Israel, marking a historic first, though the two countries do not have formal diplomatic ties. Despite tensions and differing positions on Gaza's future, the summit is seen as a step toward broader normalization between Israel and Arab nations.
