Israeli PM Netanyahu to Skip Washington Meeting

Cites scheduling conflict with AIPAC conference as reason for absence

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not travel to Washington next week for the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, his office announced. The administration cited Netanyahu's scheduled participation in a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as the reason for his absence.

Why it matters

Netanyahu's decision to skip the Washington meeting raises questions about Israel's commitment to the new Board of Peace initiative, which aims to facilitate dialogue and conflict resolution in the Middle East. His absence could be seen as a snub, potentially straining relations between Israel and the US administration.

The details

The Board of Peace is a newly formed international body tasked with mediating disputes and promoting peace in the Middle East. Its inaugural meeting was set to take place in Washington next week, but Netanyahu's office said the prime minister would not be able to attend due to his prior commitment to the AIPAC conference.

  • The Board of Peace's inaugural meeting is scheduled for next week in Washington.
  • Netanyahu is scheduled to participate in the AIPAC conference during the same time period.

The players

Benjamin Netanyahu

The current Prime Minister of Israel.

Board of Peace

A newly formed international body tasked with mediating disputes and promoting peace in the Middle East.

American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)

A pro-Israel lobbying group based in the United States.

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What’s next

It remains to be seen how the US administration will respond to Netanyahu's absence from the Board of Peace inaugural meeting, and whether it will impact Israel's relationship with the new international body.

The takeaway

Netanyahu's decision to prioritize the AIPAC conference over the Board of Peace meeting highlights the delicate balance Israel must strike between maintaining strong ties with the US and pursuing its own diplomatic agenda in the region.