Israel says US Gaza executive board composition against its policy
TEL AVIV, January 17 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday that the Trump administration’s announcement this week about the composition of the Gaza board was not coordinated with Israel and was contrary to government policy.
It was stated that Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will raise the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The statement did not specify which part of the board contradicted Israeli policy. An Israeli government spokesman declined to comment.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also included in the board announced by the White House on Friday. Israel has repeatedly opposed any Turkish role in Gaza.
Other members of the board include Sigrid Kaag, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process; An Israeli Cypriot billionaire; and a minister from the United Arab Emirates who established relations with Israel in 2020.
Washington this week also announced the start of the second phase of the plan to end the war in Gaza that President Donald Trump announced in September. This includes the establishment of an interim technocratic Palestinian administration in the region.
The first members of the so-called Peace Board, which Trump will chair and will be tasked with overseeing the interim administration of Gaza, have also been announced. Members include Rubio, billionaire developer Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell. Editing by Barbara Lewis and Mark Potter)
