Overview
- Axios reported that Netanyahu rejected a White House request for President Isaac Herzog to sit on stage and sign the Board of Peace charter in Davos.
- Invitations went to 58 countries with the option to send a head of state, head of government, or an empowered representative, and U.S. officials sought visible Israeli participation.
- Sources described multiple calls between senior White House officials and Netanyahu’s team as tense, and Israel ultimately did not appear at the ceremony.
- Netanyahu did not travel to Davos due to the International Criminal Court arrest warrant, while Herzog was in attendance at the World Economic Forum.
- Advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveled to Israel to press for opening the Rafah crossing after the White House chose not to escalate the representation dispute.