Netanyahu Signs Peace Board Agreement
Israel officially joined the Board of Peace on Wednesday, just before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump at the White House. The signing took place in the presence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Netanyahu posted on X that while discussions would cover multiple regional issues, including Gaza, the main focus would be negotiations with Iran.
Background on the Gaza Peace Board
The Gaza Board of Peace was initially signed in late January in Davos, Switzerland. Leaders from 17 countries attended, including presidents and senior officials from Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central and Southeast Asia.
Netanyahu was not at the original ceremony but accepted Trump’s invitation to join the board afterward. His office said the prime minister had previously raised concerns about the Gaza executive board, especially regarding the roles of Qatar and Turkey.
Other countries invited by the White House included Russia, Belarus, France, Germany, Vietnam, Finland, Ukraine, Ireland, Greece, and China. Poland and Italy, however, announced they would not participate.
U.S. Military Moves Amid Iran Talks
Netanyahu’s Washington visit coincides with the U.S. increasing its military presence in the Middle East while talks with Iran continue. Trump has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and the USS Michael Murphy, a guided-missile destroyer, as envoys meet with Iranian officials in Oman.
Additional U.S. naval forces, including the USS Bulkeley, USS Roosevelt, USS Delbert D. Black, USS McFaul, USS Mitscher, USS Spruance, and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., are positioned across key waterways near Iran. These locations include the eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea.
