The news that Netanyahu will travel with Trump to this peace conference in Sharm El-Sheikh was surprising. And now the Israeli leaders office says he won’t be going — even more astonishing.
This is all being orchestrated with Trump’s face-to-face brand of politics.
The Facebook page of Egypt’s Sisi describes it this way: “President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call today from U.S. President Donald Trump while he was in Israel, accompanied by the Israeli Prime Minister, who also spoke with the President. It was agreed that he would attend the peace summit, which Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will also participate.”
Perhaps the Israeli leader recognized there was the possibility of coming face to face with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is already here. He would not have wanted that.
Events are still developing, of course. This is Trump doing his trademark transparent diplomacy. This whole summit has been organized at the last moment.
As I write, we are watching world leaders fly in over our heads — world leaders like the French President Emmanuel Macron and the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer promising support and money.
The news that Netanyahu would come and then the decision that he will not also underscores how challenging the future will be.
Disarming Hamas, running Gaza while it is rebuilt, finding a Palestinian leadership the world will accept. All this is ahead, it will need Trump’s full attention and determination if it stands a chance.
