Netanyahu Agrees to Join Trump’s Board of Peace

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he would join US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, confirming Israel’s participation in the initiative after initial reservations raised by his office.

The decision was announced in a post on X by the official account of the Israeli prime minister, which said Netanyahu had accepted Trump’s invitation and would become a member of the board, described as a forum composed of world leaders.

From Gaza Ceasefire to Broader Diplomatic Platform

The Board of Peace was originally conceived as a limited group of global leaders tasked with overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. However, the scope of the initiative has since widened significantly, with the Trump administration inviting dozens of countries and signaling ambitions to mediate conflicts beyond Gaza.

Trump, who chairs the board, has hinted that the body could play a role in addressing broader international disputes, marking a notable expansion of its original mandate.

Executive Committee Dispute and Türkiye Factor

Netanyahu’s office had earlier criticized the composition of the board’s executive committee, stating that it had not been coordinated with the Israeli government and was “contrary to its policy.” While specific objections were not detailed, the committee includes Türkiye, a key regional rival of Israel.

Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has also publicly opposed the initiative, calling on Israel to assume unilateral control over Gaza’s future rather than participate in multilateral frameworks.

Growing Membership, Pending Responses

Countries that have already joined the Board of Peace include the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Argentina.

Other invitees — including the United Kingdom, Russia, and the executive arm of the European Union — have confirmed receiving invitations but have not yet announced whether they will participate.