update deskMiddle East

Trump administration not inviting Israel to Bahrain summit, according to report

Also not in attendance: Russia, China and the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump with senior White House adviser Jared Kushner at the start of a meeting in Jerusalem on May 22, 2017. Credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump with senior White House adviser Jared Kushner at the start of a meeting in Jerusalem on May 22, 2017. Credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO.

The Trump administration will not invite Israeli officials to its upcoming economic summit in Bahrain on June 25-26 when it reveal the first part of its highly anticipated Mideast peace deal for Israelis and Palestinians.

Axios and Israel’s Channel 13 first reported the development.

Although Israel was told by the United States that it would receive an invitation, when it didn’t arrive in the past few days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said behind closed doors that he wasn’t going to “chase an invitation,” though the prime minister’s office denied that.

Netanyahu has no issue with Israel not being invited and respects the decision, a senior Israeli official told Channel 13 and Axios.

“The goal of the workshop in Bahrain is to present our economic vision for the Palestinian people,” said a senior U.S. official. “As such, we want to focus on the economic aspects and not the political ones.”

In addition to Israel, Russia, China and the Palestinian Authority will not be in attendance.

The European Union will only send a “technical level official” to Bahrain, said European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini, who met with senior White House adviser and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner last week in advance of the conference.

You have read 3 articles this month.
Register to receive full access to JNS.

Just before you scroll on...

Israel is at war. JNS is combating the stream of misinformation on Israel with real, honest and factual reporting. In order to deliver this in-depth, unbiased coverage of Israel and the Jewish world, we rely on readers like you. The support you provide allows our journalists to deliver the truth, free from bias and hidden agendas. Can we count on your support? Every contribution, big or small, helps JNS.org remain a trusted source of news you can rely on.

Become a part of our mission by donating today
Topics
Comments
Thank you. You are a loyal JNS Reader.
You have read more than 10 articles this month.
Please register for full access to continue reading and post comments.
Never miss a thing
Get the best stories faster with JNS breaking news updates