Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided not to attend US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, according to Israeli officials. While Netanyahu had not formally confirmed his attendance, Israeli media had previously reported that he was expected to be present at the ceremony.
The announcement of Netanyahu's change of plans comes in light of the scheduling of his next court hearing on January 20. This date coincides with Trump's inauguration, as judges overseeing Netanyahu's corruption trial set the hearing for the same day.
Despite not physically attending the inauguration, Netanyahu has maintained communication with President-elect Trump through phone conversations. The two leaders have been in contact since Trump's victory in the November election.
Both Trump and President-elect Joe Biden have been urging Israel and Hamas to work towards a hostage release and ceasefire agreement before Trump's inauguration. The ongoing efforts to facilitate negotiations between the two parties highlight the importance of regional stability in the Middle East.
