Israel’s Netanyahu agrees to join Trump’s Board of Peace that will...

Key Highlights

• The announcement is a departure from the previous stand by Netanyahu’s office.
• It had said the composition of the Gaza executive committee – which includes Turkey, a key regional rival – wasn’t coordinated with the Israeli government and ran “contrary to its policy,” without clarifying its objections.
• Netanyahu’s decision to join the board could now put him in conflict with some of the far-right allies in his coalition, such as Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has criticized the board and called for Israel to take unilateral responsibility for Gaza’s future.
• Those who have joined the board are the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Argentina.
• Others, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Egypt, Russia, Turkey and the executive arm of the European Union, say they have received invitations but have not yet responded.