Kushner makes first solo Mideast trip
Seeking to resuscitate moribund peace talks
JERUSALEM — President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and chief Middle East adviser, Jared Kushner, made his first solo visit to the region Wednesday, holding separate meetings with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an attempt to restart long-dormant peace talks.
Sitting down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kushner and other U.S. officials discussed “potential next steps” to make progress on Trump’s goal of “a genuine and lasting peace” between Israelis and Palestinians, the White House said.
Kushner, whose family has a long relationship with Netanyahu, met with the Israeli leader in Jerusalem for about 3 1/2 hours before heading to the West Bank city of Ramallah for a late-night meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Trump administration faces the same obstacles that have doomed previous attempts by Republican and Democratic administrations: deep disagreements over key issues such as borders, dueling claims to Jerusalem and the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
But Kushner enjoys some advantages that could allow him to make at least some progress. Trump made a successful visit to the region last month and appears to have forged a good working relationship with both sides.
Netanyahu’s office released a short video showing Kushner, along with envoy Jason Greenblatt and U.S. Ambassador David Friedman, arriving at the Israeli premier’s office in Jerusalem.
Reporters were barred from covering the meetings and did not have a chance to ask Kushner questions.
This month marked the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Mideast war, in which Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
The White House appeared to play down expectations ahead of the visit, saying that “forging a historic peace agreement will take time” and that Kushner and Greenblatt will likely make “many visits” to the region.