As I have written, we all have our own biases, formed through our own life experiences and education. No one is bias-free.
Regarding the political foundations of the United States, my bias is towards an interpretation that government is formed to serve the citizens. Power is distributed to different parts in order to create checks and balances on each part so that none become too powerful. I believe that we all adopt a Social Contract with each other that confirms our commitment to freedom for everyone, independent of their financial state, religion, race, sex or age. I believe that as a society we strive to support those of us whose voice is not strong enough on their own to influence policy to protect them.
Others of us have a different bias. Some believe that the U.S. Constitution, informed by, and written with regards to the Enlightenment thinking of the time, is a quaint 18th Century document that does not fit the modern world. The continual dysfunction of the Congress, the attempts by the Courts to legislate, and the influence of money in political action underscore the failings of the system imagined by the Framers of the Constitution. You may prefer a Machiavellian model.
I want to take a look at the “Board of Peace”, created last week in Davos. From my viewpoint, the structure of it is intrinsically appalling, because it establishes a model for autocratic control. Some of you may see it differently, as an organization that establishes a strong leader in a world that needs a tough pilot.
PREFACE
Why a “Board of Peace” (BOP)?
In the Israel/Hamas Ceasefire agreement, in Phase 2, it states that Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, made up of Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace”, which well be headed and chaired by Donald J. Trump.
The sense is that there needs to be a BOP in place before the transitional technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee can be established. And that committee will operate under the supervision of the BOP.
As we look at the BOP we will see that it is structured so that its “supervision” will be total control, by one man.
The charter of the BOP can be found here: https://israeled.org/draft-charter-of-the-board-of-peace-january-2026/ . Whatever observations I make in the next few paragraphs can be seen as coming directly from that charter.
THE INNAUGURAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
As per the Charter, the Chairman, Mr. Trump appoints the members of the Executive Committee, who serve two-year terms, subject to removal or renewal solely at the discretion of the Chairman, Mr. Trump. The Chief Executive of the Executive Committee can only be nominated by the Chairman, Mr. Trump and confirmed by the Committee itself.
The inaugural Executive Committee is:
Mr. Trump President of the US
Marco Rubio US Secretary of State
Steve Witkoff US Special Envoy
Jared Kushner Mr. Trump’s son-in-law
Tony Blair Former UK Prime Minister
Marc Rowan A billionaire contributor to Mr. Trump’s campaign, considered for a Cabinet position
Ajay Banga An Indian Banker, prior Chairman of Mastercard, and President of the World Bank
Robert Gabriel Longtime Trump advisor and current Deputy Security Advisor to Mr. Trump
There are no Palestinians, no Israelis, no leaders from Arab states on this executive board.
THE CHARTER, THE LOGO
As shown above the chosen logo for the BOP has been designed to emulate that of the United Nations. From the rest of the language in the Charter, it does appear that the BOP is being positioned as an alternative to the U.N. Mr. Trump has, over the past 12 months removed funding from, support from, and membership in almost 100 different international committees and organizations, most of which are associated with the UN. Perhaps you believe that the UN is dysfunctional and should be replaced rather than modernized; that there does not need to be an organization that allows ALL nations to have an equal say, because that leads to twisted and partisan policies that are not in the interest of the U.S. If you feel that way, then the BOP may be a better choice.
THE CHARTER, THE PREFACE
The Preface to the Charter lays out the basis of the need for this organization. It establishes a rationale for why the BOP is needed over other international organizations. This rationale is independent of the need for supervision of Gaza specifically; it applies to virtually any problem in the world in any location.
It states that peace requires pragmatic judgement, common-sense solutions, and the courage to depart from traditional approaches, that have “too often failed.” It states that people should be impowered to take ownership of their own future through “sustained, results-oriented partnerships(s)”.
It then positions the BOP as an alternative to the UN: “Emphasizing the need for a more nimble and effective international peace-building body”, it creates a “coalition of willing States”.
THE CHARTER, THE MISSION
The mission is similar to that of the UN.
The UN’s core purpose is to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, deliver humanitarian aid, support sustainable development and uphold international law.
The GOP Mission seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance and secure enduring peace according to international law.
THE CHARTER, WHO CAN BE A MEMBER?
Donald J. Trump is named in the Charter as the inaugural Chairman of the Board of Peace, and as the inaugural representative of the United States of America.
The Charter establishes that Mr. Trump will remain Chairman of the BOP until such time as HE chooses to voluntarily resign, or as a result of “incapacity”, which requires a unanimous vote of the Executive Committee.
Further, Mr. Trump shall at all times designate his own successor for the role of Chairman.
He remains the sole representative of the United States during his term as Chairman. There is no provision in the Charter that would allow the United States to appoint an additional representative to the BOP after Mr. Trump leaves office as President. He will still remain as the solitary US representative.
Other members can ONLY be members of the BOP by specific invitation of the Chairman, Donald J. Trump.
Those invitations have been made to a select group of states. Any invitation, strictly under the sole control of Mr. Trump, can be revoked, as Mr. Trump, angered by the Davos statements of the PM of Canda did this week for the invitation he had sent to Canada.
Membership is given to a country, and the representative of that country will be its Head of State or Government.
Each Member State serves a single term of no more than 3 years, subject to renewal solely by the Chairman, Mr. Trump.
And, as I am sure have heard, a state that contributes $1 Billion is not subject to the 3-year term limit, although nothing in the Charter defines how long those terms would last.
ANY member can have their membership terminated outside of the defined term limits through a decision of the Chairman, Mr. Trump. ANY member, at ANY time. This can only be overridden by a veto by a two-thirds vote of the Member States (who are also under the potential threat of dismissal by Mr. Trump).
THE CHARTER, HOW IT WORKS
The BOP will meet annually and when the Chairman Mr. Trump orders one.
The agenda at such meetings will be approved by the Chairman, Mr. Trump.
Each member, thus each State, will have one vote.
The Chairman, Mr. Trump will have the exclusive authority to create, modify, or dissolve any subsidiary entities created by the BOP.
THE CHARTER, WHO DECIDES?
For ANY internal disputes between BOP members, “the Chairman, (Mr. Trump) is the final authority regarding the meaning, interpretation, and application of this Charter”
THE CHARTER, CAN IT BE AMENDED?
Amendments may be adopted through a two-thirds majority vote of the BOP; however, it MUST be confirmed by the Chairman, Mr. Trump. Without that confirmation, there can be no amendment made.
Amendments to the Chater sections I, VI, and IX MUST be unanimous and also must be confirmed by the Chairman. Those sections describe the “mission”, the legal status, and the section that confers upon the Chairman, Mr. Trump, the right when “acting on behalf of the BOP, to adopt resolutions or other directives, consistent with this Charter, to implement the Board of Peace’s mission”.
Those of you with legal training will be able to tell me if this power, as written, applies ONLY to resolutions passed by the board, or might apply to resolutions made by the Chairman without Board approval, but when “acting on behalf of the Board”.
MEMBERS:
Here is the current membership in the BOP:
Donald J. Trump (United State of America)
Albania Argentina Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain
Belarus Bulgaria Egypt Hungary Indonesia
Israel Jordan Kazakhstan Kosovo Kuwait
Mongolia Morocco Pakistan Paraguay Qatar
Saudi Arabia Turkey UAE Uzbekistan Vietnam
CHARTER OF THE BOARD OF PEACE
PREAMBLE
Declaring that durable peace requires pragmatic judgment, common-sense solutions, and the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed;
Recognizing that lasting peace takes root when people are empowered to take ownership and responsibility over their future;
Affirming that only sustained, results-oriented partnership, grounded in shared burdens and commitments, can secure peace in places where it has for too long proven elusive;
Lamenting that too many approaches to peace-building foster perpetual dependency, and institutionalize crisis rather than leading people beyond it;
Emphasizing the need for a more nimble and effective international peace-building body; and
Resolving to assemble a coalition of willing States committed to practical cooperation and effective action,
Judgment guided and justice honored, the Parties hereby adopt the Charter for the Board of Peace.
Article 1: Mission
CHAPTER I-PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS
The Board of Peace is an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict. The Board of Peace shall undertake such peace-building functions in accordance with international law and as may be approved in accordance with this Charter, including the development and dissemination of best practices capable of being applied by all nations and communities seeking peace.
CHAPTER II
MEMBERSHIP
Article 2.1: Member States
Membership in the Board of Peace is limited to States invited to participate by the Chairman, and commences upon notification that the State has consented to be bound by this Charter, in accordance with Chapter XI.
Article 2.2: Member State Responsibilities
(a) Each Member State shall be represented on the Board of Peace by its Head of State or Government.
(b) Each Member State shall support and assist with Board of Peace operations consistent with their respective domestic legal authorities. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to give the Board of Peace jurisdiction within the territory of Member States, or require Member States to participate in a particular peace-building mission, without their consent.
(c) Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force.
Article 2.3: Termination of Membership
Membership shall terminate upon the earlier of: (i) expiration of a three-year term, subject to Article 2.2(c) and renewal by the Chairman; (ii) withdrawal, consistent with Article 2.4; (iii) a removal decision by the Chairman, subject to a veto by a two-thirds majority of Member States: or (iv) dissolution of the Board of Peace pursuant to Chapter X. A Member State whose membership terminates shall also cease to be a Party to the Charter, but such State may be invited again to become a Member State, in accordance with Article 2.1.
Article 2.4: Withdrawal
Any Member State may withdraw from the Board of Peace with immediate effect by providing written notice to the Chairman.
CHAPTER III-GOVERNANCE
Article 3.1: The Board of Peace
(a) The Board of Peace consists of its Member States.
(b) The Board of Peace shall vote on all proposals on its agenda, including with respect to the annual budgets, the establishment of subsidiary entities, the appointment of senior executive officers, and major policy determinations, such as the approval of international agreements and the pursuit of new peace-building initiatives.
(c) The Board of Peace shall convene voting meetings at least annually and at such additional times and locations as the Chairman deems appropriate. The agenda at such meetings shall be set by the Executive Board, subject to notice and comment by Member States and approval by the Chairman.
(d) Each Member State shall have one vote on the Board of Peace.
(e) Decisions shall be made by a majority of the Member States present and voting, subject to the approval of the Chairman, who may also cast a vote in his capacity as Chairman in the event of a tie.
(f) The Board of Peace shall also hold regular non-voting meetings with its Executive Board at which Member States may submit recommendations and guidance with respect to the Executive Board’s activities, and at which the Executive Board shall report to the Board of Peace on the Executive Board’s operations and decisions. Such meetings shall be convened on at least a quarterly basis, with the time and place of said meetings determined by the Chief Executive of the Executive Board.
(g) Member States may elect to be represented by an alternate high-ranking official at all meetings, subject to approval by the Chairman.
(h) The Chairman may issue invitations to relevant regional economic integration organizations to participate in the proceedings of the Board of Peace under such terms and conditions as he deems appropriate.
Article 3.2: Chairman
(a) Donald J. Trump shall serve as inaugural Chairman of the Board of Peace, and he shall separately serve as inaugural representative of the United States of America, subject only to the provisions of Chapter III.
(b) The Chairman shall have exclusive authority to create, modify, or dissolve subsidiary entities as necessary or appropriate to fulfill the Board of Peace’s mission.
Article 3.3: Succession and Replacement
The Chairman shall at all times designate a successor for the role of Chairman. Replacement of the Chairman may occur only following voluntary resignation or as a result of incapacity, as determined by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board, at which time the Chairman’s designated successor shall immediately assume the position of the Chairman and all associated duties and authorities of the Chairman.
Article 3.4: Subcommittees
The Chairman may establish subcommittees as necessary or appropriate and shall set the mandate, structure, and governance rules for each such subcommittee.
CHAPTER IV-EXECUTIVE BOARD
Article 4.1: Executive Board Composition and Representation
(a) The Executive Board shall be selected by the Chairman and consist of leaders of global stature.
(b) Members of the Executive Board shall serve two-year terms, subject to removal by the Chairman and renewable at his discretion.
(c) The Executive Board shall be led by a Chief Executive nominated by the Chairman and confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
(d) The Chief Executive shall convene the Executive Board every two weeks for the first three months following its establishment and on a monthly basis thereafter, with additional meetings convened as the Chief Executive deems appropriate.
(e) Decisions of the Executive Board shall be made by a majority of its members present and voting, including the Chief Executive. Such decisions shall go into effect immediately, subject to veto by the Chairman at any time thereafter.
(f) The Executive Board shall determine its own rules of procedure.
Article 4.2: Executive Board Mandate
The Executive Board shall:
(a) Exercise powers necessary and appropriate to implement the Board of Peace’s mission, consistent with this Charter;
(b) Report to the Board of Peace on its activities and decisions on a quarterly basis, consistent with Article 3.1(f), and at additional times as the Chairman may determine.
Article 5.1: Expenses
CHAPTER V-FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Funding for the expenses of the Board of Peace shall be through voluntary funding from Member States, other States, organizations, or other sources.
Article 5.2: Accounts
The Board of Peace may authorize the establishment of accounts as necessary to carry out its mission. The Executive Board shall authorize the institution of controls and oversight mechanisms with respect to budgets, financial accounts, and disbursements, as necessary or appropriate to ensure their integrity.
CHAPTER VI LEGAL STATUS
Article 6
(a) The Board of Peace and its subsidiary entities possess international legal personality. They shall have such legal capacity as may be necessary to the pursuit of their mission (including, but not limited to, the capacity to enter into contracts, acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property, institute legal proceedings, open bank accounts, receive and disburse private and public funds, and employ staff).
(b) The Board of Peace shall ensure the provision of such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of the functions of the Board of Peace and its subsidiary entities and personnel, to be established in agreements with the States in which the Board of Peace and its subsidiary entities operate or through such other measures as may be taken by those States consistent with their domestic legal requirements. The Board may delegate authority to negotiate and conclude such agreements or arrangements to designated officials within the Board of Peace and/or its subsidiary entities.
Article 7
CHAPTER VII-INTERPRETATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Internal disputes between and among Board of Peace Members, entities, and personnel with respect to matters related to the Board of Peace should be resolved through amicable collaboration, consistent with the organizational authorities established by the Charter, and for such purposes, the Chairman is the final authority regarding the meaning, interpretation, and application of this Charter.
CHAPTER VIII-CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Article 8
Amendments to the Charter may be proposed by the Executive Board or at least one-third of the Member States of the Board of Peace acting together. Proposed amendments shall be circulated to all Member States at least thirty (30) days before being voted on. Such amendments shall be adopted upon approval by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Peace and confirmation by the Chairman. Amendments to Chapters II, III, IV, V, VIII, and X require unanimous approval of the Board of Peace and confirmation by the Chairman. Upon satisfaction of the relevant requirements, amendments shall enter into force on such date as specified in the amendment resolution or immediately if no date is specified.
Article 9
CHAPTER IX-RESOLUTIONS OR OTHER DIRECTIVES
The Chairman, acting on behalf of the Board of Peace, is authorized to adopt resolutions or other directives, consistent with this Charter, to implement the Board of Peace’s mission.
CHAPTER X-DURATION, DISSOLUTION AND TRANSITION
Article 10.1: Duration
The Board of Peace continues until dissolved in accordance with this Chapter, at which time this Charter will also terminate.
Article 10.2: Conditions for Dissolution
The Board of Peace shall dissolve at such time as the Chairman considers necessary or appropriate, or at the end of every odd-numbered calendar year, unless renewed by the Chairman no later than November 21 of such odd-numbered calendar year. The Executive Board shall provide for the rules and procedures with respect to the settling of all assets, liabilities, and obligations upon dissolution.
CHAPTER XI-ENTRY INTO FORCE
Article 11.1: Entry into Force and Provisional Application
(a) This Charter shall enter into force upon expression of consent to be bound by three States. (b) States required to ratify, accept, or approve this Charter through domestic procedures agree to provisionally apply the terms of this Charter, unless such States have informed the Chairman at the time of their signature that they are unable to do so. Such States that do not provisionally apply this Charter may participate as Non-Voting Members in Board of Peace proceedings pending ratification, acceptance, or approval of the Charter consistent with their domestic legal requirements, subject to approval by the Chairman.
Article 11.2: Depositary
The original text of this Charter, and any amendment thereto shall be deposited with the United States of America, which is hereby designated as the Depositary of this Charter. The Depositary shall promptly provide a certified copy of the original text of this Charter, and any amendment or additional protocols thereto, to all signatories to this Charter.
CHAPTER XII RESERVATIONS
Article 12
No reservations may be made to this Charter.
CHAPTER XIII-GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 13.1: Official Language
The official language of the Board of Peace shall be English
Article 13.2: Headquarters
The Board of Peace and its subsidiary entities may, in accordance with the Charter, establish a headquarters and field offices. The Board of Peace will negotiate a headquarters agreement and agreements governing field offices with the host State or States, as necessary.
Article 13.3: Seal
The Board of Peace will have an official seal, which shall be approved by the Chairman.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Charter.