Trump's son-in-law Kushner launches Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts

Trump's son-in-law Kushner launches Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts
US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner held 'productive' talks with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, the White House said.
3 min read
22 June, 2017
Kushner, a 36-year-old real estate developer, is attempting to restart peace talks. [Getty]
US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner held "productive" talks with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, the White House said.

Kushner, a 36-year-old real estate developer with little experience of international diplomacy, is attempting to broker a deal to restart negotiations between the two sides, which have been frozen since talks collapsed in 2014.

He was accompanied by Trump's Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, while controversial US ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who openly backs illegal settlements, also attended the meeting with Netanyahu.

The new ambassador also backs moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, a position which breaks decades of US foreign policy.

"The three United States officials discussed Israel's priorities and potential next steps with Prime Minister Netanyahu, acknowledging the critical role Israel plays in the security of the region," the White House said in a statement.

"The meeting was productive and the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing President Trump's goal of a genuine and lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians that enhances stability in the region," the statement read.

In a short video released by Netanyahu, the Israeli premier told Kushner that the meetings are an "opportunity to pursue our common goals of security, prosperity and peace."

Greenblatt and Kushner both accompanied Trump in May on his first visit as president to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Two-state solution?

The senior US officials also met Abbas and his advisors in Ramallah, accompanied by US Consul General Donald Blome, for talks the White House also dubbed "productive."

Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudainah said all major issues at the heart of the conflict were discussed.

"Kushner and Greenblatt discussed with President Abbas priorities for the Palestinians and potential next steps, acknowledging the need for economic opportunities for Palestinians and major investments in the Palestinian economy," it said.

A White House official said this week Trump "strongly believes that peace is possible," and that Greenblatt and Kushner expect to visit the region multiple times in coming months in a bid to build confidence between the two sides.

In discussion with Greenblatt before Kushner's visit, Palestinian sources said the phrase "two-state solution" had not been used, Reuters reported.

They added that before Abbas' meeting with Kushner they had been asked to draw up 12 bullet point demands which they would want met in negotiations.

In February, Trump appeared to break with decades of US policy on the two-state solution, saying: "I'm looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like".