'Pakistan Not Welcome': Israel Slams 'Terror Backers' After Sharif Joins Trump's Board Of Peace

Israel has cleared that it will not allow Pakistan to play an role in Gaza transition force. The statement comes a day after Islamabad became a part of 20 countries that signed the 'Board of Peace' charter under US President Donald Trump's plan.

Speaking to NDTV at Davos, Israel's Economy Minister Nir Barkat said, "Any country that supported terror is not welcome...and that includes Pakistan."

The minister has also warned Iran of strong retaliation if provoked again. Barkat said, "We targeted them once, we hit them hard, and if they try to pick a fight with us, we'll hit them harder seven times."

Barkat accused Tehran of being the driving force behind instability in the Middle East. "Iran has been the head of the evil axis," he said, pointing to its support for Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its arsenal of ballistic missiles aimed at Israel. He argued that Israel's recent military response had exposed Iranian vulnerabilities: "We dramatically crippled them... and demonstrated they're not as strong as they thought."

Despite the tough rhetoric, Barkat emphasized Israel's focus remains defensive. "The Israeli interest is to defend Israel. If they propose a threat, we will hit them hard. If they want to overthrow their regime, that's their business," he said.

Referencing Israel's peace treaties with Egypt, Jordan, and the Abraham Accords, Barkat expressed hope for eventual reconciliation. "If and when Iran changes direction and seeks peace with Israel, we'd be happy to collaborate," he noted.

He also praised the Trump administration's peace framework as "a better alternative than the UN, which is biased," and highlighted cooperation with Arab leaders in Hebron as a model for Gaza's future governance.

Barkat dismissed the two-state solution as unrealistic, citing near-unanimous opposition in Israel's parliament. "The Palestinian Authority wants a state in order to destroy us," he said.
On international peacekeeping proposals, he drew a firm line: "We will not accept the Qataris, the Turks... and that includes Pakistan. They've been very supportive of the jihadi organization in Gaza, and we will not trust them having boots on the ground."

Although the Trump administration extended invitations to nearly 60 nations-including major powers such as India and China-fewer than 20 ultimately took part in the Davos launch. Those who joined are entering a body where permanent membership is said to come with a staggering $1 billion price tag.

In October, Israel and Hamas formally endorsed Trump's peace initiative.

So far, the countries that have accepted the invitation to join the board include: Argentina, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Mongolia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

However, India, though invited, has not issued a response to the invitation.