The Monocle Daily The Board of Peace gets under way while Iran is on tenterhooks
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Feb 19, 2026 Isabel Hilton, founder of China Dialogue and King's College visiting professor, and Yossi Mekelberg, Chatham House MENA analyst, dig into Trump's new Board of Peace and its implications. They also debate tense US-Iran diplomacy, Venezuela’s diplomatic shift, and how food, sport and soft power shape international relations.
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Chinese New Year Banquet Experience
- Isabel Hilton recounted attending multiple elaborate Chinese New Year banquets with regional chefs and many courses.
- She described formal announcements of each dish and one banquet serving soup unusually early.
Board Of Peace Lacks Clear Mandate
- The Board of Peace risks becoming a rival photo-op to the UN rather than a substantive reconstruction plan for Gaza.
- Yossi Mekelberg warns timelines, mandates and real troop commitments remain unclear while Gaza's needs are urgent.
Define Timelines Before Funding
- Prioritise clear, enforceable timelines and roles before funding reconstruction efforts.
- Without defined withdrawal, disarmament and elections, reconstruction money cannot deliver lasting peace.