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Conflict in the Middle East

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Seven Muslim-majority countries agree to join Trump's Board of Peace

138 replies

Twiglets1 · 21/01/2026 19:03

Seven countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt say they will join US president Donald Trump's Board of Peace, according to a joint statement.

They will join Israel, which also publicly confirmed its participation earlier on Wednesday.

The group of Muslim-majority countries named in the statement are Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Qatar.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8jek4vv8ko

US President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Seven more countries agree to join Trump's Board of Peace

Seven Muslim-majority countries publicly accept an invitation to Trump's new organisation, joining Albania, Bahran, Hungary, Morocco and Israel.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8jek4vv8ko

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Twiglets1 · 29/01/2026 11:09

keepeofthesevenkeys · 29/01/2026 09:23

You can say that without resorting to Holocaust inversion and comparing a group of raping murdering terrorists to the victims of the Warsaw ghetto.

Exactly - criticising Israel isn't antisemitic.

Using the Holocaust as a stick to beat Israel with is antisemitic.

It makes me feel grubby that this is even being discussed on a thread I started. Which was supposed to be about the Board of Peace not this unsavoury subject of Holocaust inversion.

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PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 15:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 15:54

Twiglets1 · 29/01/2026 07:09

@PigletJohn the war in Gaza did not happen because Israel decided one day to randomly start bombing Gaza “due to their ethnicity.”

It was triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel & their long held desire to murder Jews.

You are mistaken in thinking that the ghetto was constructed in 2023.

keepeofthesevenkeys · 29/01/2026 16:48

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Comparing Israel to the Nazis is pretty much the definition of Holocaust inversion, as is comparing an antisemitic terror group to Jewish Holocaust victims.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 17:31

I can see you find it painful when I mention that Israel has created a racist ghetto where it pens people of different ethnicity.

Sadly, however it is true.

You cannot outlaw it being mentioned.

keepeofthesevenkeys · 29/01/2026 17:43

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 17:31

I can see you find it painful when I mention that Israel has created a racist ghetto where it pens people of different ethnicity.

Sadly, however it is true.

You cannot outlaw it being mentioned.

I find it antisemitic when you use offensive Holocaust comparisons. And snrisemitism is illegal.

So is support of Hamas, and comparing them to Holocause victims comes pretty fucking close to that.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 17:48

@keepeofthesevenkeys

I don't know what country you live in, but I live in the UK, and it is not illegal here to comment on similar actions by two different nations.

As for support of Hamas, that is not something I have done. Perhaps you are thinking of Netanyahu and the State of Israel, who, as you know, supported Hamas and helped it take power in Gaza.

Twiglets1 · 29/01/2026 17:55

@keepeofthesevenkeys with the greatest respect, I wouldn't bother. You are just giving oxygen to someone who uses holocaust inversion so not worth engaging with, particularly if it upsets you.

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keepeofthesevenkeys · 29/01/2026 17:56

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 17:48

@keepeofthesevenkeys

I don't know what country you live in, but I live in the UK, and it is not illegal here to comment on similar actions by two different nations.

As for support of Hamas, that is not something I have done. Perhaps you are thinking of Netanyahu and the State of Israel, who, as you know, supported Hamas and helped it take power in Gaza.

Edited

I live in the UK where antisemitism is illegal and Hamas are a proscribed organisation.

The UK government has adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism which includes "Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel."

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 17:58

@keepeofthesevenkeys

You are mistaken in thinking that is UK law.

You are also mistaken in thinking that my comments on the actions of the State of Israel encompass all Jews.

keepeofthesevenkeys · 29/01/2026 17:59

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 17:48

@keepeofthesevenkeys

I don't know what country you live in, but I live in the UK, and it is not illegal here to comment on similar actions by two different nations.

As for support of Hamas, that is not something I have done. Perhaps you are thinking of Netanyahu and the State of Israel, who, as you know, supported Hamas and helped it take power in Gaza.

Edited

You compared the October 7th attacks to the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. That suggests to me some sympathy towards the former.

But as has been suggested I problably shouldn't give racists oxygen. That's what you want and also probably why @MNHQ allow it, because the more I post the more eyeballs on their site and the more ad revenue they get.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

keepeofthesevenkeys · 29/01/2026 18:15

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Noting similarities is comparing, yes.
And I didn't say greater, I just said sympathy towards one suggests sympathy towards the other.

Are you a politician? You certainly talk like one.

Anyway, not giving antisemites oxygen.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 18:17

Comparing:

Fred is six foot tall. Bill is five foot tall, so smaller than Fred

Not comparing:

Fred and Bill both have black hair.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 18:19

"And I didn't say greater, I just said sympathy towards one suggests sympathy towards the other."

That's not what you said.

You said sympathy to one side.
I infer from your words that you disapprove of it.

EasternStandard · 29/01/2026 18:44

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 17:31

I can see you find it painful when I mention that Israel has created a racist ghetto where it pens people of different ethnicity.

Sadly, however it is true.

You cannot outlaw it being mentioned.

Some posts were deleted, mnhq can decide what’s ok on here or not.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 21:48

But keepeofthesevenkeys is wrong to allege that I have said something illegal.

ClaraKMumsnet · 29/01/2026 22:20

Hello,

We've deleted a number of posts on this thread for breaking our Talk Guidelines. While we are loath to shut down discussions, if this continues, then we may have to delete the thread. Please bear our Talk Guidelines and our statement on moderation on discussions about conflict in the Middle East in mind when posting.

Ihatetomatoes · 29/01/2026 22:52

ClaraKMumsnet · 29/01/2026 22:20

Hello,

We've deleted a number of posts on this thread for breaking our Talk Guidelines. While we are loath to shut down discussions, if this continues, then we may have to delete the thread. Please bear our Talk Guidelines and our statement on moderation on discussions about conflict in the Middle East in mind when posting.

Since predominantly its the same poster hat is having posts deleted, maybe they wish to achieve that by shutting down discussion?

Some do seem to be rather bored at present, the ceasefire is holding up and stage 2 is next.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2026 23:23

"You compared the October 7th attacks to the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. That suggests to me some sympathy towards the former."

You are mistaken.

PigletJohn · 30/01/2026 00:19

Ihatetomatoes · 29/01/2026 22:52

Since predominantly its the same poster hat is having posts deleted, maybe they wish to achieve that by shutting down discussion?

Some do seem to be rather bored at present, the ceasefire is holding up and stage 2 is next.

Yes, it's good to hear the ceasefire is so successful that Israeli strikes have only killed about 480 Palestinians since the "ceasefire" started.

It's to be hoped that Israel's blockade will in time be relaxed enough to let plywood, roofing nails and wheelchairs (all currently prohibited) into Gaza. Such kindness and generosity should be praised.

"A UN official said denials of entry often appear arbitrary and can extend to everyday goods such as fresh food and frozen chicken with no clear explanation."

FT.com

Twiglets1 · 30/01/2026 05:16

ClaraKMumsnet · 29/01/2026 22:20

Hello,

We've deleted a number of posts on this thread for breaking our Talk Guidelines. While we are loath to shut down discussions, if this continues, then we may have to delete the thread. Please bear our Talk Guidelines and our statement on moderation on discussions about conflict in the Middle East in mind when posting.

With respect I would ask MNHQ to please not delete my thread about the Board of Peace & its members.

One person is having multiple posts deleted and they are not even posting about what the thread is supposed to be about.

To delete the whole thread would be to lose all the points raised by people that have posted on topic and in good faith.

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Twiglets1 · 30/01/2026 06:37

New Zealand is the latest country to decide "not to join the Board of Peace in its current form.”

Foreign minister Winston Peters said on X that it was important that the board’s work was "complementary to and consistent" with the UN Charter for Gaza.

“A number of states, particularly from the region, have stepped up to contribute to the Board’s role on Gaza, and New Zealand would not add significant further value to that,” he wrote.

“It is a new body, and we need clarity on this, and on other questions relating to its scope, now and in the future. New Zealand will not be joining the Board in its current form but will continue to monitor developments,” he added.

Several Middle East and Asian countries have, however, joined the board, including Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. US says 35 countries have agreed to join the project, including Israel.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/trump-gaza-board-of-peace-new-zealand-b2910641.html

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exPFIlawyerbaby · 31/01/2026 21:23

Basically the best thing for Palestine is for it to be rebuilt at base cost. Whereas most of the people on the board are money people, their job and raison d'etre is money, profit. You can see the problem.

The only way to get things built at base cost is for it to be done by the state - so the engineers, designers, managers, specialist contractors, are all expert but inhouse.

Base cost is a fraction of what professional contractors and property developers cost and make because so much profit is added to cost by large contractors and property devlopers. . For example, a costed spec for a school rebuild might be 3M at base cost, yet PFI contractors would charge 30M. (This is why Private Eye kept slating PFI contracts as being an immoral waste of public money!). In some countries government funded building is done by the government at base cost - so for example, housing, hospitals, play areas. Whereas in the UK almost nothing is done at base cost and our developers earn millions. Trump is a property developer, and I am guessing that it is a similar situation in the US. And what Palestine needs now is for the rebuild to be done at base cost, not by foreign contractors who will charge a hefty profit and want ongoing interests.

With the board of peace you can see huge potential conflicts of interests.

The other key thing to be dealt with is land ownership. Should land only be held by Palestinians? Would the above money led board of peace investers accept that?

And if so, in what capacity would the board act - purely in a sort of pro bono equivalent sense? Using their skills to help the Palestinian state and donating funds, but getting nothing back?

It seems unlikely.

And the consequence would be you'd be looking at a bright shiny new Palestine owned by outsiders - including potentially by Israel in real terms, ironically - this is something which needs though, clarity and transparency. If non Palestinians owned the infrastructure, land, etc, how could we say that Palestine is being rebuilt for Palestinians with sensitivity and autonomy and sovereignty if they would essentially be controlled by money outside Palestine?

And the numbers of Palestinians who were crowded into Gaza after being displaced - after a long war - this needs thoughtful planning to enable normal people thrive - schools, hospitals, play areas, community areas - not "let's make it beaufitul and good for business" (translated as "good for investor coffers").

Thought is needed about how to get to a point where displaced Palestinians can return to where they came from - this means that quick and frank negotiations are needed about creating an equal 2 state solution - not confining Palestinians to the tiny portions of land which are Gaza and bits of the West Bank.

My concern (and the concern of many) is that the board of peace might not be the right people to do this - as I said, there could be just too many vested interests.

There are huge oil fields just off the coast of Gaza - these resources should be used for the Palestinians not "invested" in (ie controlled by) foreign groups.

I am sorry to say it, but the board of peace as it seems right now is the way to prolong the war - the acts of violence will not go away (and both Palestinians and Israelis will suffer) unless the focus is on a fair 2 state solution being agreed and autonomy and soveriegnty being given to Palestinians and enabling rebuilding to be at base cost and to meet needs of citizens - before the Riviera dreams go for profit.

Twiglets1 · 01/02/2026 05:38

@exPFIlawyerbaby the problem with the state rebuilding Gaza is that there is no state there currently. There is Hamas but they aren’t offering to spend any of their billions rebuilding Gaza.

The Board of Peace is very far from ideal I agree. The members will almost certainly only invest in Gaza to make a big profit. But I don’t see how else it will realistically get rebuilt?

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