In a surprising move, former US President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a “Board of Peace” to oversee a $1 billion fund for Gaza. However, the proposal has already faced significant pushback, with Israel rejecting the terms of the board and no Palestinian representatives included.
According to a draft document obtained by Bloomberg, the board would be chaired by Trump himself and would require member states to contribute at least $1 billion in cash within the first year to maintain their membership for more than three years. The board is described as “an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.”
The draft suggests that Trump would have significant control over the board, including approving the agenda for meetings and designating a successor for the role of chairman. This has raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the initiative.
Despite Trump’s claims of progress in securing a lasting peace agreement in Gaza, the Israeli government has already expressed its opposition to the board’s composition. In a statement, the Israeli government said that the board’s executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the foreign ministry to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the matter.
The inclusion of controversial figures like former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who remains a divisive figure in the Middle East due to his role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, has also drawn criticism. Blair, who later became a representative of the Quartet seeking peace between Israel and the Palestinians, has been accused of being too close to Israel.
Moreover, the lack of Palestinian representation on the board has been a major point of contention. As of now, no Palestinians have been invited to sit on the board, though additional members are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The announcement of the “Board of Peace” comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with ongoing conflicts and a lack of progress in the peace process. The success of this initiative will likely depend on its ability to address the concerns of all stakeholders, including Israel and the Palestinian authorities, and to operate with transparency and accountability.
