Jared Kushner leading Trump’s delegation to Middle East
President's special adviser and son-in-law leading group to discuss possibility of resuming peace process
White House adviser Jared Kushner is leading a delegation of Trump administration officials to the Middle East to discuss the possibility of resuming the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The White House said Mr Kushner left the US on Sunday for the Middle East with envoy for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt and deputy national security adviser Dina Powell.
They are expected to be in Israel on Wednesday and to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas separately on Thursday.
The three are also expected to meet leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt during their trip.
Palestinians are hoping for some clear answers on key disputes with Israel from Mr Kushner.
They have shown increasing signs of impatience in recent days, saying that after more than six months in office, the US president has still not laid out a vision for peace in the region.
Ahmad Majdalani, a senior aide to Mr Abbas, said the Palestinians asked Mr Kushner for the US position on two key issues – Israeli settlements and support for Palestinian independence – during his last visit to the region in June.
“Since then we didn’t hear from them,” he said.
“We hope they bring clear answers this time. If not, then the peace process cannot be resumed because we cannot negotiate from scratch.”
The Palestinians are seeking a freeze in Israeli settlement construction and a US endorsement of Palestinian independence as part of a two-state solution with Israel.
The Palestinians say that continued Israeli construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem – captured territories sought by the Palestinians for their state – undermines their dream of independence.
Mr Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, is expected to meet Israeli and Palestinian officials on Thursday as he tries to restart talks. The last round broke down over three years ago.
Mr Trump has cast the elusive pursuit of peace between Israelis and Palestinians as the “ultimate deal”, but he has given few indications of how he plans to reach it.
With his administration still coping with the fallout from his handling of the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Mr Netanyahu facing a growing police investigation into possible bribery and corruption, the odds of any major breakthroughs on this trip seem low.
Mr Trump has not explicitly endorsed the two-state solution, the cornerstone of US policy for nearly two decades and the international community’s preferred outcome.
He has urged Israel to show restraint in settlement construction, but not demanded a freeze, disappointing the Palestinians.
He also has backed away from a campaign pledge to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel had welcomed the promise, while the Palestinians strongly opposed it.
Israel claims east Jerusalem, home to sensitive religious sites, as part of its capital. The Palestinians want the area, captured by Israel in 1967, as the capital of their future state.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
