Netanyahu Accepts Trump Invitation to Join Board of Peace

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join the “Supreme Peace Council,” a new international body proposed by Trump and composed of world leaders, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Wednesday.

The council is part of a broader initiative promoted by Trump to oversee post-war arrangements in the Gaza Strip and potentially expand its mandate beyond Gaza. According to international reporting, the body is envisioned as a parallel framework that could rival the United Nations, an idea that has drawn both interest and concern among U.S. allies.

Netanyahu’s acceptance places Israel inside a forum that the White House is rapidly assembling ahead of a planned unveiling at the World Economic Forum. The invitation to Israel was part of a wider outreach effort that included leaders from across the geopolitical spectrum, among them Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

So far, only a limited number of countries have publicly confirmed their participation. These include the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Morocco, Hungary, and Canada. CBS News reported that more than ten countries have formally signed onto the initiative, though most have not done so publicly.

At the same time, several Western governments have declined to participate. France has publicly rejected the invitation, citing concerns over the council’s decision-making authority, the inclusion of Russia, as well as potential conflicts with the role of the United Nations. Britain has also said it will not join the body at this stage, pointing to the inclusion of Russia and Belarus and reaffirming its commitment to the United Nations. Norway has likewise opted not to take part, while other European governments have expressed skepticism or signaled privately that they are unlikely to join, though without issuing formal rejections.

One of the most controversial elements of the proposed council is its reported financial and structural framework. According to reports, membership would initially be granted for three-year terms, while countries seeking permanent status would be required to pay a reported $1 billion. 

Israel’s decision to join comes against the backdrop of earlier tensions with Washington over Gaza governance. Following Trump’s announcement of a Gaza executive committee operating under the peace framework, the Prime Minister’s Office said the move had not been coordinated with Israel and contradicted Israeli policy. “The announcement regarding the composition of the Gaza governing committee, which is subordinate to the Peace Conference, was not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy,” the statement said, adding that Netanyahu instructed the foreign minister to raise the issue with the U.S. secretary of state.

According to Israeli officials, Jerusalem debated the invitation intensely before agreeing to join. Declining the offer risked alienating the U.S. president and limiting Israel’s influence over decisions affecting Gaza’s future. Accepting it, however, means Israel will sit as an equal voice alongside countries it views as problematic on Gaza-related issues, including Turkey and Qatar, which have been linked in reporting to the Gaza operational framework.

Trump is seeking to hold a formal signing ceremony for the council on Thursday during the Davos forum. While the White House continues to push forward, it remains unclear what powers the council would ultimately have, how its decisions would be enforced, and how it would operate alongside existing international institutions. For now, Israel has chosen to secure a seat at the table as the initiative takes shape.