Israel joins Trump's Board of Peace, Netanyahu says

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel signed accession to U.S. President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace," and the board will hold its first meeting on Feb. 19 in Washington to discuss Gaza reconstruction.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in Washington that Israel has joined U.S. President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace." He met with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the visit and posted on X that he had signed Israel's accession. The board was authorized in a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November and was created under a Trump plan tied to a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Under that plan the board is meant to supervise Gaza's temporary governance and later was described by Trump as a mechanism that could be expanded to address other conflicts. The board will hold its first meeting on Feb. 19 in Washington to discuss Gaza's reconstruction. Key facts: - Netanyahu announced on X that he signed Israel's accession to the Board of Peace. - A U.N. Security Council resolution in mid-November authorized the board and related stabilization efforts in Gaza. - The board was created under Trump's Gaza plan to oversee temporary governance and is set to meet on Feb. 19 in Washington to discuss reconstruction. - Some Middle Eastern allies have accepted invitations to join, while several traditional Western allies have so far declined or reacted cautiously. - Rights experts and commentators have said Trump's oversight resembles a colonial structure and Israel's inclusion is expected to draw further criticism; the board does not include a Palestinian. Summary: The formal accession of Israel to the Board of Peace places it among the countries participating in a U.N.-authorized initiative tied to a Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction plan. The next scheduled step is the board's first meeting on Feb. 19 in Washington; reactions from countries and rights experts suggest the move will draw international attention.