Greenspan joins Trump's Gaza board to build bipartisan base

The Board of Peace has appointed Shelley Greenspan to a senior role focused on congressional relations. The move is part of a wider effort to build bipartisan support for President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.

Greenspan, who served as President Joe Biden’s liaison to the Jewish community, will report to senior advisers Josh Gruenbaum and Aryeh Lightstone. She is scheduled to begin her new position next week. Her primary responsibility will be engaging with Democratic members of Congress to ensure the initiative gains traction across party lines.

The administration’s strategy aims to prevent the Gaza plan and the Board of Peace from becoming temporary projects tied solely to the current Republican executive. Officials want to establish a political framework that a future Democratic president, potentially elected in 2028, would be inclined to maintain and support.

This approach mirrors lessons drawn from the Abraham Accords. When Trump announced normalization deals between Israel and several Arab states in 2020, the initiative stalled after his administration left office. The Biden team did not advance new agreements until 2023, when Secretary of State Antony Blinken appointed Dan Shapiro as a special envoy to expand the framework.

Greenspan brings a background of serving in both Democratic and Republican governments. She previously worked on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, held policy roles at AIPAC and Amazon, and served at the State Department and the National Security Council. Her experience includes managing global partnerships and technology sector policy.

In a statement, Greenspan expressed her intent to continue the work she began during her time at the State Department. She noted that the 20-point plan offers a tangible path to peace and prosperity for the regions of Gaza and Israel. The Board of Peace highlighted her ability to work across the aisle, citing her trusted relationships with lawmakers from both parties.

Support for the plan has already come from prominent Democrats. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote in the Financial Times that while the 20-point plan was not her preferred draft, it remains the only framework with sufficient leverage and resources to move toward implementation. Former ambassador Jack Lew and senior adviser Brett McGurk have also voiced their backing for the initiative.

The Board of Peace emphasized that sustained congressional support is essential for the work ahead. It stated that Greenspan is uniquely capable of leading this outreach effort, leveraging her deep experience in national security and intergovernmental relations to secure the necessary legislative backing.