Donald Trump Unveils Board of Peace at Davos Ceremony

US President Donald Trump has formally launched the “Board of Peace”, a new international body aimed at resolving conflicts, in a signing ceremony held in Davos, Switzerland. The board’s charter outlines its purpose and structure, with a $1 billion price tag for permanent membership.

The initiative was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza following Israel’s two-year conflict with the territory. However, the draft charter does not appear to limit its role to this specific region. Trump stated that “everybody” wants to be part of the board during his remarks at the World Economic Forum.

The board will have an executive committee consisting of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Several countries have agreed to join, while others have yet to respond to invitations from Washington.

Notably, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced that the UK will opt out of signing on Thursday, joining a growing list of countries that have declined to participate. France, Norway, Sweden, and Slovenia are among those that have also expressed reservations about the initiative.

Palestinians in Gaza have expressed skepticism about the board’s intentions, with Al Jazeera reporting that many believe they are being discussed as a “problem” rather than as people with rights to be addressed. The formation of the Board of Peace has sparked concerns that it may rival or undermine existing international organizations, such as the United Nations.

The board’s charter and membership fees will be made public in the coming days.

Source: Al Jazeera