Trump's 'Board of Peace' Stacked with Israel Hawks

When Donald Trump assembled his so-called "Board of Peace" for Middle East policy, the name suggested balance and impartiality. But a closer look at the roster reveals something quite different: a collection of Israel's most ardent American supporters, raising fundamental questions about whether the U.S. can still claim to be an honest broker in the world's most intractable conflict.

The Hawks Have Landed

The composition tells the story. David Friedman, Trump's former ambassador to Israel, once called the two-state solution "an illusory concept." Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor tapped for a key role, has declared that "there's no such thing as a Palestinian." Jared Kushner, architect of the Abraham Accords, has suggested that Gaza's waterfront could be "very valuable" for development—while its current residents remain displaced.

These aren't diplomatic newcomers feeling their way through complex negotiations. They're ideological warriors who've spent decades advocating for maximalist Israeli positions. During Trump's first term, they helped move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and blessed settlement expansion in the West Bank.

The Strategy Behind the Selection

Trump's choice isn't accidental—it's calculated. Evangelical Christians, who make up roughly 25% of the American electorate, overwhelmingly support Israel. A recent Pew survey found that 82% of white evangelicals believe God gave Israel to the Jewish people. For Trump, solidifying this base matters more than maintaining the pretense of neutrality.

There's also a strategic logic at play. Rather than getting bogged down in endless peace processes that go nowhere, Trump seems to be betting on a different approach: full-throated support for Israel might actually bring stability through strength. If Palestinians and their Arab allies know America won't pressure Israel, the thinking goes, they might be more willing to accept whatever deal is on offer.

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The Arab World's Calculation

This puts Arab leaders in an impossible position. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE desperately want American investment, weapons, and security guarantees. But they also face populations increasingly sympathetic to Palestinian suffering, especially after the Gaza war that killed over 40,000 people.

Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's crown prince, has publicly stated that normalization with Israel is impossible without Palestinian statehood. Yet privately, Saudi officials continue engaging with both Israeli and American counterparts. The question is how long this double game can continue.

The Mediator's Dilemma

History suggests that successful peace negotiations require mediators who can speak to all sides. Henry Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy worked because both Arabs and Israelis trusted him to understand their positions. Jimmy Carter's Camp David success came partly because Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin both believed Carter would be fair.

But can Mike Huckabee credibly negotiate with Palestinian leaders when he's questioned their very existence? Can David Friedman broker compromises on settlements when he's spent years defending their expansion? The answer seems obvious, yet Trump appears unconcerned.

Peace Through Victory?

Perhaps that's the point. Trump's team may not be interested in traditional peace negotiations at all. Instead, they might be pursuing what one former Israeli official called "peace through victory"—the idea that one side wins so decisively that the other has no choice but to accept defeat.

This approach has historical precedents. Germany and Japan became peaceful democracies after total military defeat. But the Middle East isn't post-war Europe, and the Palestinian national movement isn't going away simply because America stops pretending to care about its aspirations.