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Netanyahu accepts invitation to Trump's peace initiative
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to participate in U.S. President Donald Trump's newly formed Board of Peace, a body designed to address global conflicts but facing criticism for sidelining traditional diplomatic channels. The announcement came from Netanyahu's office on Wednesday, confirming his membership alongside other world leaders.
Board's mandate and controversies
Originally conceived to help end the two-year Israel-Hamas war and oversee Gaza's reconstruction, the Board of Peace's charter makes no explicit mention of the Palestinian territory. Critics argue the initiative appears structured to replace certain functions of the United Nations, raising concerns about its legitimacy and scope.
The board's charter states it will operate as an "international organisation" aimed at "promoting stability, restoring lawful governance, and securing enduring peace in conflict-affected regions." It will function "in accordance with international law," though its exact mechanisms remain unclear.
Global participation and skepticism
Alongside Israel, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and ten other nations-including Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Turkey, and Vietnam-have accepted invitations to join. However, several key countries have declined or expressed reservations.
Norway announced it would not participate, citing "a number of questions" about the proposal. France and Sweden have also indicated they will abstain. Meanwhile, Canada, Russia, and the United Kingdom have yet to publicly respond to invitations.
The board's charter stipulates it will become active once three nations formally consent to its terms. Members serve renewable three-year terms but can secure permanent status by contributing $1 billion in funding.
Leadership and operational structure
Trump will serve as the board's chairman while also representing the United States. According to a leaked document, his role includes "exclusive authority" to create, modify, or dissolve subsidiary entities to fulfill the board's mission. He will also appoint "leaders of global stature" to a two-year term on an Executive Board.
Last week, the White House named seven founding members of the Executive Board, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Bulgarian politician Nickolay Mladenov, a former UN Middle East envoy, was appointed as the board's on-the-ground representative in Gaza. His role involves coordinating with a Palestinian technocratic government tasked with restoring public services, rebuilding civil institutions, and stabilizing daily life in the territory.
Israel's objections and Gaza's fragile ceasefire
Netanyahu's office issued a statement on Saturday criticizing the composition of the Gaza Executive Board, stating it was "not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy." Israeli media reported that the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar-both brokers of the October ceasefire-occurred without Israel's input.
The ceasefire, part of the first phase of Trump's peace plan, has proven precarious. Since its implementation, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reports over 460 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, while the Israeli military states three of its soldiers have died in Palestinian attacks during the same period.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 71,550 deaths, according to Gaza's health ministry.
Challenges ahead for phase two
Phase two of the peace plan, which includes Gaza's reconstruction and demilitarization, faces significant hurdles. Hamas has refused to disarm without guarantees of an independent Palestinian state, while Israel has not committed to a full withdrawal from Gaza. Progress hinges on Hamas returning the remains of the last deceased hostage, a demand Israel insists must be met before advancing.
A November UN Security Council resolution authorized the Board of Peace as a transitional administration with a mandate to coordinate Gaza's redevelopment, set to expire at the end of 2027.
