The Trump administration has just announced the formation of a Board of Peace for Gaza. Will it really bring lasting peace? Or will it bring peace in our time as British prime minister Neville Chamberlain said just before World War II?
History teaches us that hostilities end when an economic alternative emerges. Examples include the Marshall Plan in Europe in 1945, MacArthur’s reforms in Japan, and the Irish Good Friday Agreement of 1998. President Trump, who knows about building skyscrapers, wants to turn Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East.
What are the economic credentials of the Board of Peace? There are many moving parts.
National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG):
The NCAG’s role is to implement Trump’s 20-point peace roadmap as endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
The NCAG will be led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, a Palestinian civil engineer. It will implement the restoration of public services, civil institutions, and daily life in Gaza.
Founding Executive Board:
The appointed members are:
- Marco Rubio US Secretary of State, an attorney.
- Steve Witkoff – special envoy, real estate developer.
- Jared Kushner – special advisor, real estate developer, businessman
- Sir Tony Blair – UK Prime Minister 1997-2007.
- Marc Rowan – American businessman, CEO of Apollo Global Management.
- Ajay Banga – President of the World Bank. Ex-executive chairman of Mastercard.
- Robert Gabriel – US deputy national security advisor, former television producer,
Each Executive Board member will oversee a defined portfolio, including governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization.
Gaza Executive Board:
In support of the Office of the High Representative and the NCAG, a Gaza Executive Board is established. The Board will help support effective governance and the delivery of best-in-class services that advance peace, stability, and prosperity in Gaza. The appointed members are:
- Steve Witkoff;
- Jared Kushner;
- Sir Tony Blair;
- Marc Rowan;
- Minister Hakan Fidan- Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs. Military and intelligence past;
- Ali Al-Thawadi – Qatari lawyer who was the controversial Secretary General of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee;
- General Hassan Rashad Director of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service;
- Minister Reem Al-Hashimy – UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, was Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the World Expo 2020;
- Nickolay Mladenov – Bulgarian politician and diplomat – see below;
- Yakir Gabay – Israeli-Cypriot-UK billionaire real estate businessman;
- Sigrid Kaag – Dutch ex Finance Minister, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza.
Senior Advisors:
The Chairman (Trump) appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisors to the Board of Peace, charged with leading day-to-day strategy and operations
Aryeh Lightstone was senior adviser to the US ambassador to Israel from 2017 to 2021 and was tasked with activating the Abraham Accords. Josh Greenbaum is US Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service and ex-investment banker.
High Representative:
Nickolay Mladenov will serve as the High Representative for Gaza. He will act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the NCAG. He will support the Board’s oversight of all aspects of Gaza’s governance, reconstruction, and development, while ensuring coordination across civilian and security pillars.
He served as Bulgarian Minister of Defense 2009-2010 and Foreign Minister 2010-2013. In 2015-2020 he served as UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. When he left that role, he received praise from both Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Security:
US Major General Jasper Jeffers will be Commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to support comprehensive demilitarization and enable the delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.
Other Board Members:
Additional Executive Board and Gaza Executive Board members may be announced.
Comments:
- Presumably the Founding Executive Board might prove more powerful than the Gaza Executive Board?
- The Trump plan is a two year planned interim arrangement. It won’t make Gaza a country. A country generally has an elected legislature, an executive and a judicial system. The Trump plan only addresses the executive (administrative) component, especially economic development.
- There is no mention of taxation. So how will Trump pay for it all? We have discussed this is the past (https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/opinion/article-859982). Our best guess is that the Peace Board might start exploiting the Gaza Marine Gas Field off the coast of Gaza. It is estimated to contain more than one trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Presumably, the World Bank would control the gas bank accounts, not Hamas.
- What’s in it for Israel? Hopefully peace. Also – just as Hong Kong serves as an entry/exit point to China, Israel would be an ideal access/supply point to Gaza for Israeli and international companies in the gas and construction sectors.
- Will there be peace in the Middle East? Or peace in our time? That remains to be seen…..
As always, consult experienced professional advisors in each country at an early stage in specific cases.
© Leon Harris 16.1.26