THE JEWISH  CHRONICLE

By Jacob Jaffa

A bevy of world leaders put their names to the new body’s founding charter, though some were notable by their absence

US President Trump promised “peace in the world” as world leaders signed the founding charter of the new Board of Peace (BoP) during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump, who will lead the new body as its inaugural chair, said he was “honoured” to lead the establishment of the organisation.

Originally pitched as a mechanism for post-war governance in Gaza, the BoP now appears to have taken on a new role as an alternative to the United Nations, though the US president pledged it would work “in conjunction” with the established global body.

Speaking during the ceremony, Trump said: “We have peace in the Middle East, nobody thought that was possible.

“[Hamas] were born with rifles in their hands...but they have to give up their weapons and, if they don’t do that, it’s going to be the end of them.

"This board has the chance to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created, and it’s my enormous honour to serve as its chairman...just about every country wants to be a part of it.”

Addressing the fellow world leaders on stage, he went on: “They’re friends of mine, let me see, yeah every one of them is a friend of mine.

"Actually, of this group I like every single one of them, can you believe it? Usually, I have two or three that I can’t stand.

"They’re great leaders, and the Board of Peace is composed of leaders, the top leaders in the world, actually.”

Following his speech, Trump was joined by a procession of world leaders to sign the BoP’s founding charter.

Notable names included Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Argentine President Javier Milei, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Belarussian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

However, several key participants in the board were conspicuous by their absence. 

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu did not travel to Davos and President Herzog was not in attendance at the ceremony, nor was Vladimir Putin, whom Washington announced had agreed to sit on the board – though Moscow said it was still considering the invitation.

And France has already declined to take part following confirmation that the Russian President had been invited, while the UK said it would not attend the ceremony for the same reason, but has not confirmed whether Prime Minister Starmer will take part in the board in the future.