Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined Israel to Donald Trump’s Peace Council in early 2026, but a report aired Wednesday on Kan News says the move was made without the required government approval. The original report was broadcast on the morning program "This Morning" on Kan Reshet Bet.
According to the report, legal advisers warned that the gap between what Israel committed to internationally and what it can actually implement could create problems. They even suggested approving the step retroactively, as long as formal approval is obtained. The concern, the report said, is that the legal weakness could make it harder for Israel to influence events in the Gaza Strip.
One possible complication is that while Israel is dealing with the United States over granting immunities and special rights to allow members of the Peace Council to operate, those people are not protected under Israeli law. Netanyahu’s office had not responded by the time of publication.
The Justice Ministry said the decision to join the Peace Council is a political one for the elected leadership, not a legal issue. It added that the legal adviser told the cabinet secretary that if the prime minister wants to advance the move, the advisers will help do so in line with government procedure, but that the legal advisory system has no position on the political decision. In January, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Netanyahu would join Trump’s high-level Peace Council, which was said to include world leaders. At the time, Trump said, "Tomorrow we convene the Peace Council, which enjoys support around the world. We’ll see how it goes."
