"This is an event that will be broadcast in 174 countries, a very important event, an event that Eilat, too, is very much in need of," says Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov.

"A requirement that providers of food as a religious accommodation be required to apply for an exemption, or even be asked about their views about issues elsewhere in the world is unacceptable," University of Toronto President Meric Gertler says in a statement.

US allies such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were not invited. Turkey, a NATO ally, is also not on the participant list. China and Russia were similarly not included.

Under the current global and regional circumstances, Israel has no choice but to convince the Biden administration, through words and deeds, that it is dead set on preventing the ayatollah regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon no matter the cost.