Netanyahu skips peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh because of Jewish holiday

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the peace conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, where President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi will host more than 20 world leaders in a bid to cement an end to the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister was “unable to attend due to time constraints before the start of the vacation.” October 13-15 marks Shemini Atzeret, followed by Simchat Torah on October 15.

The leader of Israel’s left-wing democrats, Yair Golan, condemned the decision.

“I am dismayed by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to skip this historic event orchestrated by President Trump. Let me be clear: Netanyahu’s refusal to participate in the Egypt peace summit is motivated solely by narrow political interests,” he said in a statement to Fox News.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the peace conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, where President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will host more than 20 world leaders in a bid to end the war in Gaza. (Kenny Holston/Pool via Reuters)

“After two years of Israel’s most difficult war, we cannot afford to have a leader driven by self-interest.”

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The summit, which will take place in the Red Sea resort, is expected to bring together leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, as well as senior representatives from the United Nations and the European Union. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to attend as regional powers push for a role in stabilizing the post-war Gaza Strip.

The conference comes amid a renewed push by the Trump administration to expand the framework of the Abraham Accords once the Gaza conflict is resolved. Four countries joined normalization agreements with Israel during Trump’s first term, and senior White House officials have expressed optimism that other predominantly Arab and Muslim countries could follow.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will host the conference alongside Trump. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Swimming pool, File)

People gather in Hostages Square for a rally following the peace deal between Israel and Hamas. (Dana Reany/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

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Adding to the momentum, Israeli media reported that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the leader of the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, was scheduled to visit Israel on Tuesday, raising speculation that Indonesia could be next to pursue an Abraham Accords-style peace and normalization deal with Jerusalem. But Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono told Indonesian media that “no such plans” were in place for a visit.

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Subianto surprised observers with unusually warm remarks toward Israel during his speech at 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 true peace.”

Yonat Friling of Fox News contributed to this report.