Dramatic turn of events: After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would join US President Donald Trump at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, scheduled to begin Monday afternoon, the prime minister decided to cancel his participation.
A statement from his office said: "The prime minister thanked President Trump for his invitation but informed him that he would be unable to attend due to the close timing with the start of the holiday."
Netanyahu's participation was initially finalized during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in a side room at the Knesset, during which the two also held a phone conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
The Sharm el-Sheikh Conference is expected to be attended by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, alongside other leaders including the emir of Qatar, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, several European heads of state such as French President Emmanuel Macron and the Spanish prime minister, as well as the UN secretary-general.
Upon arriving at the Knesset, Trump was asked by reporters whether the war was over and replied, "The war is over." Shortly afterward, Netanyahu and Trump entered a meeting that has lasted longer than expected, causing significant delays in the previously announced schedule.
