The Israelis Are Furious at Bibi's Wife - Here's Why
Despite protocol questions regarding her official title, the Prime Minister’s wife will join spouses of world leaders and tech giants for a high-level "action-oriented diplomacy" summit in Washington.
While Israel is currently engaged in a large-scale military conflict with Iran and facing unprecedented attacks, Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to depart for Washington D.C. to participate in a prestigious international event at the White House.
The event, titled the "Shaping the Future Together" summit, is a global initiative led by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. Scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the summit will bring together representatives from 45 countries alongside top executives from the technology sector.
The two-day conference is set to begin at the U.S. State Department and culminate at the White House. The itinerary includes a roundtable discussion featuring the spouses of world leaders, senior advisors, and official representatives.
The summit is being framed by the White House as a global initiative for education and technology.
The invitation has raised eyebrows in Israel due to both its timing and matters of official protocol. In the Israeli political system, the President’s wife is officially recognized as the "First Lady," a title currently held by Michal Herzog.
However, sources indicate that because the Prime Minister’s circle frequently refers to Sara Netanyahu as the First Lady, and due to the close personal and political ties between the Netanyahus and the Trumps, the White House extended the invitation directly to her.
The visit comes at a sensitive moment for Israel. As the IDF remains active across multiple fronts in a direct confrontation with Iran, the Prime Minister's wife's participation in a high-profile social and diplomatic event in the U.S., while millions of Israelis are in bomb shelters highlights a sort of disconnect from the public.
