On the eve of his high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a discreet gathering in New York with a select group of U.S. technology executives and investors. The focus, according to Bloomberg, was artificial intelligence, its promise for strengthening Israel’s economy and its potential applications in the country’s defense.
The Sunday evening session was described by attendees as an informal conversation rather than a structured summit. Netanyahu was joined only by two aides, underscoring the private nature of the exchange. Those around the table included figures well known in Silicon Valley and beyond: Jacob Helberg, a Palantir Technologies veteran recently nominated to serve in the Trump administration; Eric Glyman, CEO of fintech firm Ramp; Eric Wu and Keith Rabois, co-founders of online real estate company Opendoor; Guillermo Rauch, head of cloud platform Vercel; and Lux Capital co-founder Josh Wolfe.
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Netanyahu in the White House.
(Photo: AP/ Alex Brandon)
Helberg’s presence was notable. A prominent supporter of Israel, he is awaiting Senate confirmation for a senior role at the State Department, where his remit would span economic growth, energy, and the environment. His nomination has already drawn scrutiny from some lawmakers, and his participation in the private talks suggests the extent of his ties to Israeli leadership.
Neither Netanyahu’s office nor representatives of the executives involved offered public comment.