Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation to join US President Donald Trump’s Peace Council.
A statement from his office said Netanyahu would become a member of the board “which will be made up of world leaders.”
The board was initially thought to be intended to help end the two-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and oversee reconstruction. But its proposed charter makes no mention of Palestinian territory and appears to be designed to replace the functions of the UN.
Invitations to join the board have been addressed to some 60 nations but just a few have so far accepted without reservations.
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Adding to concern among Western nations, the Kremlin said this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had also been invited, while Moscow’s ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has already accepted an invitation.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff was asked Wednesday if Putin was expected to join, and responded: “I think so.”
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Wednesday that European leaders were holding consultations to formulate a common position on the board.
Netanyahu accepts invite to Trump’s Board of Peace; Europe formulating common position
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares attends the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. (Mahmud HAMS / AFP)
The United Kingdom has previously flagged Trump’s invitations to Putin and Lukashenko as cause for concern, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that his country “cannot accept” the offer to join “at this stage,” over concerns shared by some European governments that the Board of Peace could undermine the work of the UN, which Trump has accused of not supporting his efforts to end conflicts around the world.
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Meanwhile, Corriere della Sera reported that Italy won’t take part in the initiative, citing concern that joining such a group led by a single country’s leader would violate Italy’s constitution.
According to Italy’s constitution, Italy may join international organizations that ensure “peace and justice among nations” only “on equal terms with other states,” a condition incompatible with US primacy on the new board, Corriere said.
On Thursday, Trump is due to preside over a ceremony celebrating the new group in Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum.
A source told Reuters that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a rightwing leader who has had warm relations with Trump, was unlikely to go to Davos. The Italian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pope Leo has also received an invitation to join the board, the Vatican’s top diplomatic official said Wednesday afternoon.
“I believe it will be something that will take some time to consider before giving an answer,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin told reporters.
So far, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have also agreed to join, as well as Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Turkey and Vietnam.
