Sa’ar Heads to Washington for Inaugural Board of Peace Summit

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar will depart for the United States this week to represent the Jewish state at two pivotal diplomatic gatherings: the inaugural summit of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington and a high-level UN Security Council session in New York.

Sa’ar’s participation in Thursday’s Board of Peace summit comes at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formally accepted President Trump’s invitation for Israel to join the new international framework. Israel’s membership was finalized during Netanyahu’s recent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Blair House.

The summit, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. local time in Washington, will mark the first official meeting of the Board since its establishment in January. Delegations from more than 20 countries are expected to attend.

Earlier this week, President Trump announced that member states plan to pledge more than $5 billion toward reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Gaza. He also said participating countries have committed thousands of personnel to a UN-authorized stabilization force and local policing mechanisms in the Strip.

Originally designed to help bring the Gaza war to a close, the Board of Peace has since been described by Trump as a broader mechanism for resolving global conflicts.

Before heading to Washington, Sa’ar will attend a ministerial-level UN Security Council meeting in New York, where foreign ministers from the United Kingdom, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Pakistan, and Indonesia are also expected to participate. The session will focus on recent Middle East developments and the path forward after months of regional turmoil.

Israel’s active role in both forums underscores Jerusalem’s determination to shape postwar realities rather than have them dictated from afar.

The Board of Peace initiative has drawn criticism in parts of Europe. In Italy, opposition lawmakers accused the government of undermining the United Nations by participating in the new framework. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has opted for observer status, emphasizing Rome’s desire to remain engaged in U.S.-led peace efforts while avoiding full membership due to constitutional constraints.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani dismissed critics, arguing that no viable alternative plan for Gaza has yet emerged. For Israel, that debate only reinforces the importance of being present at the table.

As Sa’ar travels to the United States, Israel is signaling that it intends to remain a central player in shaping Gaza’s reconstruction, regional stability, and broader diplomatic efforts. At a time of profound transformation in the Middle East, Jerusalem’s voice will be heard in both Washington and New York.

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