Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Agrees To Join Trump’s ‘Board Of Peace’

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to join the Peace Board after his office previously criticized the makeup of the board’s executive committee.

The panel chaired by Trump was initially envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. Trump administration ambitions appeared like balloons It turned into a broader concept with Trump’s expansion invitation to dozens of countries and implies that it will soon mediate global conflicts.

Netanyahu’s office had previously said the executive committee, which includes Türkiye, a key regional rival, was not coordinated with the Israeli government and was “contrary to its policies” but did not clarify its objections. Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, criticized the board and called on Israel to take unilateral responsibility for the future of Gaza.

Other countries participating in the board are UAE, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Argentina. Others, including Britain, Russia and the executive arm of the European Union, say they have received invitations but have not yet responded.

The statement came on the way to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where Trump is expected to provide more details about the board. There are many unanswered questions. It is not yet clear how many or which leaders will receive invitations.

Asked by a reporter Tuesday whether the board should replace the U.N., Trump said, “It might.” He argued that the world body was “not very helpful” and “never lived up to its potential” but also said the UN should continue “because the potential is huge.”

While some say Trump is trying to replace the UN French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a statement on Tuesday: “Yes to the implementation of the peace plan presented by the president of the United States, which we wholeheartedly support, but no to the creation of an organization that will replace the United Nations as it is presented.”

Trump said late Monday that French President Emmanuel Macron was unlikely to attend, adding: “No one wants him because he will leave office very soon.” he said. A day later, Trump called Macron “my friend” but reiterated that the French leader “won’t be there for very long.”

board members They include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump 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 the Gaza Executive Board, another body that will be responsible for implementing the agreement under the ceasefire. tough second stage of the agreement. This includes deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas and rebuilding the war-torn region.

Nickolay MladenovFormer Bulgarian politician and will serve as UN Middle East envoy Gaza board representative overseeing day-to-day affairs. Additional members include: Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Rowan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi; Hassan Rashad, director of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service; Emirati minister Reem Al-Hashimy; Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay; and Sigrid Kaag, former deputy prime minister of the Netherlands and Middle East expert.

The board will also oversee a newly appointed committee of Palestinian technocrats who will run Gaza’s day-to-day affairs.

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Catherine Gaschka in Paris contributed to this report.