Trump Invites Netanyahu to Board of Peace Amid Israeli Concerns Over Qatar and Turkey

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly launched “Board of Peace,” a central component of Trump’s post-war Gaza initiative. The invitation comes as Jerusalem voices sharp concerns over the board’s Executive Committee, which includes countries Israel has long considered hostile particularly Qatar and Turkey.

The announcement, reported by Ynet on Saturday, revealed that Netanyahu is among 50 world leaders invited to be founding members of the international body, which Trump says will “solidify peace in the Middle East” through a new framework of global cooperation.

But the invitation has stirred controversy in Israel, where officials were quick to condemn the makeup of the board’s Gaza Executive Committee. The committee includes Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt three nations that have frequently clashed with Israel diplomatically or supported positions seen as antagonistic to Israeli security.

While Egypt and Israel maintain a longstanding peace treaty, tensions have escalated in recent months due to disagreements over military operations along the Gaza–Egypt border and Cairo’s criticism of Israeli actions in Rafah. Still, it is the inclusion of Qatar and Turkey that has drawn the most intense reaction from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Qatar has long been accused by Israeli officials of financing terrorism and offering sanctuary to Hamas leadership, while Turkey under President Erdoğan has increasingly positioned itself as a fierce critic of Israeli policy, especially in Gaza. Some in Jerusalem openly refer to Ankara as a hostile actor.

“The announcement of the Executive Board’s establishment was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a Saturday statement. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has been tasked with addressing the issue directly with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was named Friday as a founding member of the Executive Board.

Trump’s letter, portions of which were shared online by Argentine President Javier Milei, described the Board of Peace as “a new international organization” designed to oversee Gaza’s transitional period. The letter invited select nations to sign and ratify the board’s charter, calling it “an honor reserved for those prepared to lead by example.”

“Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building lasting peace,” Trump wrote. He emphasized the goal of establishing “world peace, prosperity, and greatness for all.”

The Board of Peace is part of Trump’s broader 20-point Gaza plan, which includes demilitarization, humanitarian aid, and the installation of a technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza. While Trump has framed the board as a global collaboration, Israel is wary of any structure that could grant adversarial states influence over Gaza’s future.

Despite these concerns, Netanyahu’s inclusion signals a continued commitment to maintaining strategic dialogue with the U.S., even amid disagreements over policy details. Whether Israel will formally accept Trump’s invitation remains to be seen.

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