‘Tense’ calls between Trump, Netanyahu as Israel refused to join Board of Peace launch – report

Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly barred President Herzog from taking part in the Board of Peace inaugural event amid “tense and difficult” phone calls with President Trump.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu barred President Isaac Herzog from attending the inauguration of the Board of Peace last week, according to a report published by Axios over the weekend, in order to distance Israel from the new body.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump led the inauguration ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

While Netanyahu – who was the recipient of Trump’s invitation to the Board of Peace –  was not present in Davos at the time, Herzog took part in the WEF annual gathering.

According to two sources cited by Axios, Herzog’s office had broached the idea with Netanyahu of the president representing Israel at the Board of Peace launch.

Netanyahu reportedly shot down the proposal, barring Herzog from taking part in the event.

The report claimed that the Trump administration had tried to convince Netanyahu to back sending a representative.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, US officials reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office, suggesting that Herzog join the launch.

The sources cited in the report said that some of the calls between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office were “tense and difficult,” while one source said the clash over Israel’s participation created tension between Netanyahu’s office and the White House.

Netanyahu, who did not travel to Davos due to the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him, is said to have vetoed Herzog’s participation in part out of a desire to distance Israel from some of the board’s planned policies for the Gaza Strip.

The Trump administration had sought Israel’s participation alongside Arab and Muslim states in order to showcase broad support for the American plan.

The White House did not press the issue of Israel’s participation in part because the administration chose to focus its pressure on securing the opening of the Rafah crossing in Gaza, the report said.