Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he has agreed to join US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, after his office earlier criticised the makeup of the board’s executive committee.
The board, chaired by Trump, was originally envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan.
The Trump administration’s ambitions appear to have morphed towards a more ambitious concept, with Trump extending invitations to dozens of countries and hinting it will soon broker global conflicts.
Netanyahu’s office had previously said the executive committee, which includes key regional rival Turkey, wasn’t coordinated with the Israeli government and “is contrary to its policy,” without clarifying its objections.
Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, criticised the board and called for Israel to take unilateral responsibility for Gaza’s future.
Others who have joined the board are the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Argentina.
Others, including the UK, Russia and the executive arm of the European Union, say they have received invitations but have not yet responded.
It came as Trump travelled to the World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland, where he is expected to provide more details about the board.
There are many unanswered questions and it is not immediately clear how many or which other leaders would receive invitations.
When asked by a reporter on Tuesday if the board should replace the UN, Trump said, “It might.”
He asserted that the world body “hasn’t been very helpful” and “has never lived up to its potential” but also said the UN should continue “because the potential is so great.”
Replacing the United Nations?
That has created controversy, with some saying Trump is trying to replace the UN.
French Foreign Minister Jean- Noël Barrot said on Tuesday, “Yes to implementing the peace plan presented by the president of the United States, which we wholeheartedly support, but no to creating an organisation as it has been presented, which would replace the United Nations.”
Told late on Monday that French President Emmanuel Macron was unlikely to join, Trump said, “Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon.” A day later, Trump called Macron “a friend of mine” but reiterated that the French leader is “not going to be there very much longer.”
Trump also threatened to impose a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne if Paris declined the invitation to join the board.
The executive board’s members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, 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.
The White House also announced the members of another board, the Gaza Executive Board, which, according to the ceasefire, will be in charge of implementing the tough second phase of the agreement.
That includes deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas and rebuilding the war-devastated territory.
Nickolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian politician and UN Middle East envoy, is to serve as the Gaza executive board’s representative overseeing day-to-day matters.
The board will also supervise a newly appointed committee of Palestinian technocrats who will be running Gaza’s day-to-day affairs.
Additional sources • AP
