Trump plans Netanyahu meeting ahead of Board of Peace kickoff — Axios

Several Israeli government sources confirmed to Axios that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu may meet at the White House on February 18. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has accepted Trump's invitation to join the Board of Peace.

"If Netanyahu participates at the Board of Peace meeting, it will be his first public meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders since before the October 7 attacks and the war in Gaza," the media added.

According to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, however, the discussion will focus less on the Board of Peace itself and more on Iran—a major concern for Israel.

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump this coming Wednesday (on February 11 – ed.) in Washington and discuss the negotiations with Iran," Ravid reported.

He added that Netanyahu's office indicated that "any negotiations must include limits on Iran's ballistic missiles and an end to support for the Iranian axis."

The White House confirmed to Ravid that Netanyahu initiated the meeting. It was originally scheduled for February 18.

According to the correspondent, a White House official said that Netanyahu asked for permission to visit the White House a week earlier than originally planned, on February 11, to meet with President Trump.

First Board of Peace meeting

The Board of Peace's inaugural meeting was initially scheduled for February 19. The US administration plans to use the meeting to advance the second phase of the Gaza peace plan and begin fundraising for the enclave's reconstruction.

"It will be the first Board of Peace meeting and a fundraising conference for Gaza reconstruction," a US official said.

The White House declined to comment, and the initiative has been met with skepticism internationally. Many major countries, including most US allies in Europe, have not joined.

The Board currently has 27 members, led by Trump, and is under a UN mandate that includes overseeing the Gaza ceasefire and supporting reconstruction and governance efforts.

Trump's Board of Peace: What we know

Trump announced the establishment of the Board of Peace on January 22 at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Countries seeking permanent seats are asked to contribute at least $1 billion.

Under Trump's plan, the Board of Peace would initially focus on resolving the situation in Gaza, before turning its attention to the full-scale war in Ukraine and other global crises.

However, most major world powers have reacted to the initiative with deep skepticism, particularly after the Board's composition became known.

The lineup of invited countries proved highly controversial, notably including Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian ally Alexander Lukashenko, sparking outrage among most Western nations.