Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend Monday’s peace conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will host more than 20 world leaders in a bid to cement an end the war in Gaza. (Kenny Holston/Pool via Reuters)
"After two years of Israel’s most difficult war, we can not afford a leader guided by his personal interest."
WHITE HOUSE TURNS TO EXPANDING ABRAHAM ACCORDS AFTER ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE
The summit, set in the Red Sea resort town, is expected to draw leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and top representatives from the United Nations and the European Union. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is also slated to attend as regional powers press for a role in stabilizing postwar Gaza.
The conference comes amid a renewed push by the Trump administration to expand the Abraham Accords framework once the conflict in Gaza is resolved. Four nations joined the normalization agreements with Israel during Trump’s first term, and senior White House officials have signaled optimism that additional Arab and Muslim-majority countries could follow.
People gather in Hostages Square for a rally following the Israel-Hamas peace deal. (Dana Reany/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
NETANYAHU CALLS TRUMP ISRAEL’S 'GREATEST FRIEND' AS FINAL LIVING HOSTAGES RELEASED
Adding to that momentum, Israeli media reported Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto—the leader of the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation—was expected to visit Israel on Tuesday, raising speculation that Indonesia could be next to pursue an Abraham Accords-style peace and normalization agreement with Jerusalem. But Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono told Indonesian media "no such plan" is in place for a visit.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Subianto surprised observers with unusually warm remarks toward Israel during his address to the United Nations General Assembly last month, closing his speech with the Hebrew word "Shalom."
"We must also recognize, we must also respect, and we must also guarantee the safety and security of Israel," Subianto said. "Only then can we have real peace."
Fox News' Yonat Friling contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/netanyahu-skip-trumps-middle-east-peace-summit-egypt-new-regional-dynamics-take-shape