On Thursday, February 19, the first meeting of the Peace Council was held in Washington with representatives from 47 nations participating.
Trump’s Speech at the Peace Council
The first meeting of the Peace Council took place on Thursday, February 19. Representatives from 47 countries participated in the meeting, during which important information regarding Donald Trump’s initiative was conveyed. “Now we know much more than before this meeting,” said Rafał Tarnogórski, an analyst from the Polish Institute of International Affairs.
Tarnogórski stated that Trump’s speech itself did not surprise him. “Donald Trump was just as we know him. We observed a one-man theater show,” he said. The analyst also noted the special format of the meeting, which resembled events organized by technology companies. “It looked like an Apple product presentation. During the meeting, slides were shown, and Trump’s role as chairman was often emphasized,” Tarnogórski observed.
“If the conflict in Gaza can be resolved, it will be Trump’s greatest success,” said the expert.
Gaza Reconstruction Plan
During the meeting in Washington, a preliminary plan for Gaza’s reconstruction was presented. The first stage will be the rebuilding of Rafah. According to the Peace Council’s assumptions, after one year residential functions in Gaza will be gradually restored, after three years permanent construction will be possible, and in 10 years Trump’s target project will be realized – the creation of a resort in Gaza.
During the Peace Council meeting, it was also announced which countries had agreed to provide funds for Gaza’s reconstruction. These are: USA, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait. The value of already declared donations is over $16 billion. “That’s a significant amount and an important step forward, although the target amount for aid is supposed to be $70 billion,” said Tarnogórski.
Peace Council as UN Competition
During the meeting in Washington, it was suggested that the Peace Council could compete with the United Nations. “This was not expressed directly, but we had a mild rebuke directed at the UN. It was emphasized that the UN will need support to accelerate its actions,” Tarnogórski stressed.
Poland’s Participation
Some countries participated in the Peace Council meeting as observers, not members. Poland participated in this capacity, represented by Marcin Przydacz, head of the Presidential Office for International Policy. Rafał Tarnogórski believes that Poland’s decision to send a representative to the meeting was correct. “We should be present there. It’s much better to have someone on the spot than to watch a broadcast of the meeting. Such diplomatic events serve communication,” said the expert.
