Kushner: US to Unveil Middle East Peace Plan Soon
Trump’s envoy criticizes Palestinian president for failing to engage in peace process
JERUSALEM — U.S. President Donald Trump’s point man in the Middle East has wound up a peace mission to the region. U.S. envoy and Trump son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner says the Trump administration will unveil its Midddle East peace plan soon, with or without the Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority refused to meet Kushner during his weeklong visit to the region because the United States has recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Kushner made the comments to a Palestinian newspaper after holding separate talks in the region with the leaders of Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. He said the international community is “getting frustrated” with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for failing to take “constructive [steps] toward achieving peace.” The Palestinians, who see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, say the U.S. peace plan will be dead on arrival. “President Abbas will not accept the dictations of the American administration, not [only] President Abbas [but also] the Palestinian people as a whole. So now the blame game has begun,” said Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his talks with Kushner were productive. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Netanyahu praised President Donald Trump and his administration for their strong support for Israel. Netanyahu says Israel is prepared to return to the negotiating table without preconditions, and he is urging the Palestinians to follow suit.