Netanyahu Rejects Herzog's Attendance at Peace Council: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a request from the White House to allow Israeli President Isaac Herzog to attend the opening ceremony of the Peace Council for Gaza in Davos, according to Axios.

The White House wanted a senior Israeli official present to signal broad support for Donald Trump's peace plan. However, Netanyahu did not travel to Davos due to the International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

Sources said the White House approached Netanyahu's office, proposing that Herzog represent Israel and sign the Peace Charter. Netanyahu rejected the request, arguing that the invitation was addressed to him personally.

The episode caused tensions between the two sides, with the White House eventually backing down. Trump's advisors, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, met with Netanyahu in Israel, focusing on opening the Rafah crossing.

The Associated Press reported that Witkoff and Kushner urged Netanyahu to proceed with the second phase of the Gaza plan, despite pressure from within Israel.