France has rejected the offer of US President Donald Trump to join the “Board of Peace” tasked with overseeing governance and economic reconstruction in Gaza. The US had sent invitations to several world leaders, offering three-year membership with the option to pay $1 billion for permanent membership. The body is set to work alongside a technocratic administration during a transitional phase in the enclave.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, responding to the offer, said, “Paris must say no because, at present, the charter of the Board of Peace extends beyond Gaza and therefore exceeds the scope of the peace plan endorsed by the United Nations.” He added, “As currently worded, the charter is incompatible with France’s international commitments.”
White House officials said the board would “play a crucial role” in implementing the 20-point plan approved by the UN Security Council in November last year. The board’s executive body also includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and the President’s son-in-law and negotiator, Jared Kushner.
According to White House sources, Trump expects countries to sign on to the board during an economic forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the international community has expressed concerns over Trump’s plan, with some reports describing the mood in the EU as sceptical and nervous.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who supports the formation of the board in principle, has acknowledged that Israel and the United States have disagreements on the matter.
Interestingly, Trump has also invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the “Board of Peace”. The Kremlin issued a response late on Monday, saying that the proposal was being examined.
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