JERUSALEM – January 18, 2026 — In a rare public rift between the two allies, the Israeli government has formally objected to the White House’s newly announced leadership for the “Board of Peace,” a transitional body designed to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a sharp statement late Saturday, claiming the composition of the board and its executive committees was “not coordinated with Israel” and runs “contrary to its policy.”
The Point of Contention: Turkey and Qatar
While the Israeli statement did not explicitly name the individuals it opposed, diplomatic sources and local media indicate the primary friction stems from the inclusion of regional rivals.
- Turkey’s Involvement: The White House invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the founding board and named Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to the Gaza Executive Board. Israel has long maintained that Turkey should have no role in post-war security or administration due to its history of support for Hamas.
- Qatari Representation: The inclusion of Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi has also drawn fire from Israeli hardliners who view Doha as too closely aligned with Hamas leadership.
- Lack of Israeli Officials: Critics within the Netanyahu coalition noted that while an Israeli-Cypriot billionaire (Yakir Gabay) was included, no official representatives from the Israeli government were named to the oversight committees.
The “Board of Peace” Structure
Unveiled by the Trump administration as part of a 20-point plan to end the Gaza conflict, the Board of Peace is intended to function as a “https://healthvibes.news.blog/2025/12/30/health-vibes-and-healthvibes-a-modern-approach-to-wellness-and-pregnancy-nutrition/
or a transitional governing administration.
| Board / Committee | Key Members |
| Board of Peace (Chairs) | Donald Trump (Chair), Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair |
| Gaza Executive Board | Steve Witkoff, Hakan Fidan (Turkey), Hassan Rashad (Egypt), Reem Al-Hashimy (UAE) |
| On-the-Ground Leadership | Nickolay Mladenov (High Representative); Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers (ISF Commander) |
Internal Israeli Fallout
The announcement has triggered a domestic political firestorm in Israel. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have reportedly urged Netanyahu to reassess Israel’s commitment to the current ceasefire if the U.S. continues to move forward without Israeli “veto power” over board members.
Conversely, opposition leader Yair Lapid https://healthvibes.news.blog/2025/12/16/dgmnews-com-your-trusted-source-for-daily-global-media-news/
characterized the situation as a “diplomatic failure,” arguing that the government’s lack of a clear post-war plan left a vacuum that Washington filled with actors unfavorable to Israel.
What’s Next?
Prime Minister Netanyahu has instructed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to hold urgent talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to resolve the dispute. The White House has yet to comment on whether it will amend the list of appointees or if the invitations to leaders like Erdoğan and Sisi—who are still “mulling” the offer—will be rescinded.
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