In a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that he has agreed to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace. This decision comes after his office had previously expressed concerns about the composition of the board's executive committee, which they felt lacked adequate coordination with Israel.
Originally intended as a compact group of global leaders tasked with overseeing a ceasefire plan for Gaza, the concept of the board appears to have expanded under the Trump administration's ambitions. Trump has since invited numerous nations to participate, suggesting that the board could also play a role in mediating conflicts worldwide.
Previously, Netanyahu’s office criticized the inclusion of Turkey in the executive committee, citing it as a key regional competitor and stating that this composition did not align with Israel’s policies. They refrained from detailing their specific objections. Notably, Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the far-right political spectrum, has openly challenged the board's formation, advocating for Israel to take unilateral control over Gaza's future.
Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Argentina have already joined the board. Meanwhile, nations including the United Kingdom, Russia, and the European Union have received invitations but are yet to respond.
This announcement coincides with Trump’s participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he is likely to unveil more information about the board. The details surrounding the number and identity of additional leaders invited remain unclear, leaving many unanswered questions about its future direction.
When pressed by a reporter regarding whether the board could serve as a replacement for the United Nations, Trump suggested that it might, asserting that the U.N. has "not been very helpful" and has "never lived up to its potential." However, he also acknowledged the importance of the U.N. continuing to exist due to its vast potential.
Such comments have ignited a debate, with some critics accusing Trump of attempting to supplant the U.N. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot weighed in on the topic, expressing support for the peace plan laid out by the U.S. president while firmly opposing the idea of creating an organization that would effectively replace the United Nations.
In light of reports indicating that French President Emmanuel Macron is unlikely to participate, Trump remarked, "Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon," later referring to Macron as "a friend of mine" but reiterating his belief that the French leader’s time in office is limited.
The executive committee of the board includes prominent figures such as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law), former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
Moreover, the White House has revealed the members of another body, the Gaza Executive Board, which will oversee the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. This phase entails establishing an international security force, disarming Hamas, and rebuilding the areas devastated by conflict.
Nickolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian politician and U.N. Middle East envoy, is appointed as the representative overseeing daily operations for the Gaza Executive Board. Other notable members include Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Rowan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, Hassan Rashad from Egypt’s General Intelligence Agency, Emirati minister Reem Al-Hashimy, Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay, and Sigrid Kaag, the former deputy prime minister of the Netherlands and a recognized expert on Middle Eastern affairs.
Additionally, the board will manage a newly formed committee of Palestinian technocrats responsible for the everyday governance of Gaza.
