Netanyahu to Join Trump’s Peace Commission

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that he will be participating in President Donald Trump’s new Peace Commission. This comes after he had expressed concerns about the initial structure of the commission.

Netanyahu affirmed his commitment to the commission, which the Trump administration has indicated will be responsible for advancing the next phase of the Gaza peace initiative.

This announcement follows a period where Trump had initially pushed back on Israel’s suggestions. Notably, the new Gaza Executive Committee will include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali al-Tawadi, both of whom were appointed without prior coordination with Israel. Netanyahu’s office remarked that this decision contradicted Israeli policy.

As the announcement unfolded, Trump was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It’s anticipated he will share more details about the Commission during his visit, and plans for a signing ceremony for the Gaza Peace Commission are reportedly underway.

When asked if this new council should replace the United Nations, Trump remarked, “Maybe.” He acknowledged that international entities haven’t always been effective but argued that the UN should still exist due to its potential.

On January 16, the White House indicated that the Peace Commission would be crucial in implementing all twenty points of Trump’s Gaza Plan. This involves overseeing strategies, rallying international support, and ensuring accountability as Gaza moves toward peace and development.

Numerous countries have been invited to join the commission, including Belarus, China, Ukraine, India, Canada, Argentina, Jordan, Egypt, Hungary, and Vietnam, with notifications expected to go out soon. Some responses have been received from various nations regarding their participation, but not all have confirmed yet.

On a related note, Trump shared that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join the board, and the Kremlin has indicated acceptance while seeking clarity on the associated details.

Interestingly, a close aide to French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned that while France was invited, they do not have plans to participate “at this stage.”

In addition, the White House announced that Trump will lead the peace committee, alongside prominent political, diplomatic, and business figures, including Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and billionaire Mark Rowan.