JERUSALEM (AP) – Differences over U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies emerged Wednesday. peace committee Its ambitions extend beyond Gaza, with some Western European countries refusing to join, others not joining, and a group of Islamic countries agreeing to join.
The development highlighted concerns in Europe. Expanded split range Some see the project as comparable to the role of the United Nations Security Council in mediating global conflicts. President Trump is planning to formally inaugurate the board this week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Norway and Sweden said they would not accept the invitation after France also rejected it, while Muslim-majority countries including Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said in a joint statement that their leaders would attend.
It was not immediately clear how many countries would accept. White House officials said about 30 countries will participate and about 50 have been invited. Two other U.S. officials, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal plans that have not yet been made public, said about 60 countries have been invited, but only 18 have so far confirmed their participation.
President Trump was upbeat about the outlook ahead of Thursday’s board event, saying of the countries invited: “Some require Congressional approval, but for the most part, everyone wants to be there.”
The board, chaired by Trump, was originally conceived as a small group of world leaders to oversee plans for a ceasefire in Gaza. However, the Trump administration Since then, the ambition has expanded further President Trump has hinted at the council’s role as a mediator in other global conflicts, moving toward a broader vision.
prime minister of israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He said he has agreed to join the board. This is a shift from an earlier position in which his office criticized the composition of a separate commission tasked with monitoring Gaza.
Norway and Sweden follow France and say no
Norwegian Secretary of State Christopher Toner said the Scandinavian country would not participate in the council because it “raises a number of issues that require further dialogue with the United States.”
Swedish news agency TT reported that Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on the sidelines of the Davos meeting that his country does not intend to participate in the council as per its current terms, but Sweden has not formally responded.
“The time has not yet come to accept the invitation,” Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said, according to STA news agency. Mr Golob said his main concern was that the council’s powers were too broad and could seriously undermine the international order based on the UN Charter.
France rejected the invitation earlier in the week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault said: “We support the implementation of the peace plan proposed by the President of the United States, which we wholeheartedly support, but we oppose the creation of an organization to replace the United Nations, as proposed.”
The European Union’s executive bodies – Britain, Canada, Russia, Ukraine and China – have also yet to respond to Trump’s invitation.
Several countries in the Middle East and beyond have said they will participate.
Egypt and Israel, which are key to the Gaza ceasefire, have said they will join the council, along with Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision was important. This is because Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously said that the composition of the Gaza Executive Committee (which includes Israel’s main regional rival, Turkey, and will work day-to-day with those who govern the area) was not coordinated with the Israeli government and was “against policy” without making clear its opposition.
The move could put Netanyahu at odds with some of his far-right allies in the coalition, including Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has criticized the council and called for Israel to take unilateral responsibility for Gaza’s future.
Many questions remain regarding the board. Asked by reporters on Tuesday if the council would replace the United Nations, President Trump said: “Maybe.”
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Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Michelle L. Price in Washington, Josh Bork in Davos, Switzerland, Jovana Gek in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Catherine Gashka in Paris contributed to this report.