Trump convenes new 'Board of Peace' on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Trump Launches 'Board of Peace' on Palestine

US President Donald Trump has convened the inaugural meeting of a new "Board of Peace" aimed at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This move comes after decades of stalled international diplomacy and unaddressed core Palestinian demands for ending the Israeli occupation.

The board's formation represents the latest US-led initiative following the controversial Abraham Accords of 2020. Its specific mandate and membership details were not immediately disclosed.

International Community's Record of Failure

The announcement spotlights the long history of unsuccessful international efforts to resolve the conflict. Multiple peace processes, led primarily by the United States, have collapsed without securing a permanent agreement based on a two-state solution.

Key Palestinian demands that have remained unmet include:

• A sovereign state based on 1967 borders
• East Jerusalem as a capital
• A just solution for Palestinian refugees
• The removal of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank

The Stalled Two-State Solution

The concept of two independent states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side has been the cornerstone of international diplomacy for over 30 years. Despite this consensus, tangible progress has been minimal.

Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank has continued during negotiation periods, with the settler population now exceeding 700,000. Palestinians and much of the world view these settlements as illegal under international law, a claim Israel disputes.

Shifting US Policy Under Trump

The Trump administration dramatically altered traditional US policy positions, actions that Palestinians condemned as biased. These shifts included:

• Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the US embassy there in 2018
• Halting funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)
• Endorsing Israel's right to annex parts of the West Bank

These moves were seen as pre-determining outcomes on core final-status issues, undermining the US's role as a neutral mediator in the eyes of Palestinians.

A New Approach or More of the Same?

The newly formed "Board of Peace" raises questions about whether it signifies a genuine new strategy or a repackaging of previous failed frameworks. The Trump administration's "Peace to Prosperity" economic plan, unveiled in 2019, was rejected by Palestinians for focusing on economic issues before addressing political sovereignty.

With the fundamental power imbalance and lack of trust between the parties unresolved, the board faces steep challenges. Its ability to address the core political issues of borders, security, and refugees will determine its credibility.