In a surprising move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to join a US-backed “Board of Peace” proposed by former President Donald Trump, despite his office’s previous objections to the makeup of the executive committee. This new initiative, which aims to oversee a ceasefire in Gaza, has sparked concerns among diplomats that it could undermine the work of the United Nations.
The Board, which is to be chaired by the US President, was initially presented as a limited forum for world leaders to manage the Gaza situation. However, the scope of the initiative appears to have expanded significantly, with the Trump administration extending invitations to dozens of countries and suggesting the Board could evolve into a vehicle for brokering conflicts beyond the Middle East.
This has raised alarm bells among diplomats, who warn that the Board could harm the work of the UN. When asked if the Board should replace the UN, Trump said, “It might,” adding that the world body “hasn’t been very helpful” and “has never lived up to its potential.” However, he also acknowledged that the UN should continue “because the potential is so great.”
Netanyahu’s office had previously objected to the makeup of the Board’s executive committee, which includes Turkey, a regional rival of Israel. In a brief statement, the office said the committee had been formed without coordination with the Israeli government and was “contrary to its policy,” without elaborating further.
The proposed “Board of Peace” has also faced criticism from far-right members of Israel’s governing coalition, who have rejected the US-backed plan for post-war governance in Gaza, criticising Netanyahu for failing to annex the Palestinian territory and establish new Israeli settlements there.
Despite these concerns, several countries have already agreed to participate in the Board, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Argentina. Others, such as the UK, Russia, and the EU’s executive arm, have confirmed they have received invitations but are yet to respond.
The Vatican’s top diplomatic official, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has also revealed that Pope Leo has received an invitation, stating that “it will be something that requires a bit of time for consideration before giving a response.”
The draft charter for the Board of Peace, seen by Reuters, calls for member states to contribute $1 billion in cash if they want their membership to last more than three years. It also grants the chair sweeping powers, including the authority to remove member states and appoint a successor.
Diplomats have warned that the proposed Board appears to take aim at existing international institutions, including the UN. The charter states that the committee must have “the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed.”
This move comes as the Trump administration has been a vocal critic of the UN, and earlier this month announced the US would withdraw from 66 international organizations and treaties, around half of which are affiliated with the UN system.
As the international community grapples with the implications of this new “Board of Peace,” the role and relevance of the United Nations in resolving global conflicts remains a topic of intense debate.
