Trump launches Board of Peace' at ceremony in Davos

"United States President Donald Trump has formally announced the first charter of his so-called Board of Peace, a body for resolving international conflicts with a $1bn price tag for permanent membership. The board, which Trump launched in a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza after Israel's two-year genocidal war on the Strip. But a draft of the charter does not appear to limit its role to the Palestinian territory."

"Everybody wants to be a part of his board, Trump claimed on stage at the World Economic Forum (WEF), before signing documents formally establishing the initiative, surrounded by other members. Trump is chairman, while members of the executive include former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Tens of countries have agreed to join, while many others have yet to respond to invitations from Washington."

"However, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK will opt out of signing on Thursday, joining a growing list of refusals that includes France, Norway, Sweden and Slovenia. Some fear the Board of Peace will rival or undermine the United Nations. Trump appeared to touch on those concerns in his opening remarks at the ceremony, saying the initiative would work with many others, including the United Nations, also listing other major diplomatic issues around the region and worldwide."

Donald Trump launched the Board of Peace at a Davos signing ceremony, creating an international conflict-resolution body with a $1bn permanent membership fee. The charter was conceived to oversee Gaza rebuilding after Israel's two-year war but does not limit the board's remit to Palestinian territory. Trump serves as chairman; executive members include Tony Blair, Marco Rubio, and Jared Kushner. Tens of countries have agreed to join while several governments, including the UK, France, Norway, Sweden and Slovenia, have refused. Critics fear the board could rival or undermine the United Nations. Palestinians in Gaza feel discussed as a problem to be managed rather than rights-holders.

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