Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted President Donald Trump‘s invitation to join his Board of Peace that will oversee the start of the second phase in postwar Gaza.
Netanyahu was previously critical of the Trump-led board because the United States did not coordinate with Israel on establishing the international body, which his office said “runs contrary to its policy.” Israel did not clarify its objections, but it likely disagrees with Trump’s inclusion of Turkey in the Gaza Executive Board under the larger Board of Peace.
Despite his criticism, Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s offer.
The prime minister “accepts the invitation of US President Donald Trump and will become a member of the Board of Peace, which is to be comprised of world leaders,” his office announced early Wednesday.
Israel’s announcement came as Trump was en route to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting of world leaders. The Board of Peace is reportedly expected to have a signing ceremony at the Davos summit on Thursday.
Many countries have joined Israel in becoming members of the Board of Peace, while others have rejected the proposition.
The United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Argentina, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Kosovo accepted Trump’s offer since the White House announced the board’s formation last week. Paraguay also plans to accept but won’t become a permanent member, as the South American country won’t pay the $1 billion fee for full-time membership due to its economic conditions.
France, Norway, Sweden, and Poland are among the countries that dismissed Trump’s invitation to join the board. France, in particular, opposes the board, fearing it may replace the United Nations in the mediation of global conflicts.
Trump spoke to France’s suspicions on Tuesday when he said the Board of Peace might replace the U.N. He has criticized the global body for failing to help settle several wars, including the one in Gaza.
“Well, I mean, the U.N. just hasn’t been very helpful,” Trump said. “I’m a big fan of the U.N.’s potential, but it has never lived up to its potential. The U.N. should have settled every one of the wars that I settled; I never went to them. I never even thought to go to them. They should be able to settle those wars.”
Russia was also invited to become a member of the Board of Peace. The Kremlin said on Monday it would review the proposal and deliberate with the White House.
The Board of Peace is designed to preside over the transition of power in Gaza from Hamas to a Palestinian technocratic committee.
Hamas welcomed the formation of the Palestinian technocratic committee last week. Israel has expressed concerns that Trump’s plans for Gaza will only embolden Hamas, as the terrorist group resumes fundraising and moves to revive weapons production. Hamas has also refused to disarm, which will be a key test for whether the second phase in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire holds.
WHO WAS INVITED TO BE ON TRUMP’S ‘BOARD OF PEACE’?
Last week, the White House said the founding executive board of Trump’s larger board includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan.
Separate from the founding executive board, the Gaza Executive Board includes some of the aforementioned figures in addition to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay. Egypt and the UAE are also represented on this board.