Kushner Attacks Abbas in Rare Palestinian Interview, Questions His Ability to Reach a Deal

Trump envoy tells Al-Quds that if Palestinian president won’t engage, U.S. administration will present the plan to the public

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Jun 24, 2018

WASHINGTON – Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, gave a rare interview over the weekend to the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds. Kushner spoke about the United States administration’s peace plan, and criticized the blanket rejection Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed for the plan before it has even been presented.

The interview is considered an attempt to speak directly to the Palestinian people at a time when the Palestinian leadership refuses to engage with the Trump administration.

“President Abbas says that he is committed to peace and I have no reason not to believe him,” said Kushner. “However, I do question how much President Abbas has the ability to, or is willing to, lean into finishing a deal. He has his talking points which have not changed in the last 25 years. There has been no peace deal achieved in that time. To make a deal both sides will have to take a leap and meet somewhere between their stated positions. I am not sure President Abbas has the ability to do that.”

Read more at https://www.haaretz.com/jared-kushner-criticizes-abbas-in-rare-palestinian-newspaper-interview-1.6200287