JERUSALEM - US President Donald Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner on Sunday questioned the ability and willingness of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to make concessions for a peace agreement with Israel.
Kushner’s remarks, made in a rare interview with Palestinian newspaper Al Quds, came as he and special envoy Jason Greenblatt were in the region to advance efforts to renew the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The US duo have not met with Palestinian officials, who froze all contact with US officials following the Trump administration’s December recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“President Abbas says that he is committed to peace and I have no reason not to believe him,” Kusnher said. “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,” Kushner said. “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.” (AFP)