SnarkShark
Well-known member
President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy team, comprised of seasoned dealmakers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, recently opened up about their unorthodox strategy behind the Israel-Hamas peace accord in an exclusive interview with Lesley Stahl.
Kushner, a key figure in Trump's administration, revealed that he and his co-conspirator had long harbored deep-seated doubts about the traditional approach to negotiating Middle East conflicts. "We didn't want to be beholden to conventional wisdom," Kushner said candidly. The result was an unapologetically unconventional strategy aimed at brokering a lasting peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
According to Witkoff, this marked a deliberate departure from the usual tactics employed by diplomats in the region. "We didn't just want to sit around the negotiating table; we wanted to get out of it," he quipped, underscoring their willingness to challenge traditional norms.
Their approach involved forging unprecedented relationships with key figures on both sides of the conflict, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This interpersonal rapport was seen as a crucial factor in bridging the gap between Israel's hawkish lobby and Hamas's Islamist ideology.
Critics have questioned the deal's validity, citing concerns over its lack of transparency and potential shortcomings on key issues such as Jerusalem's status and refugees' rights. However, Kushner and Witkoff maintained that their unorthodox strategy was a deliberate response to a long-stale diplomatic stalemate.
"We didn't want to be part of the problem; we wanted to be part of the solution," Kushner stated unequivocally. Their willingness to push boundaries has sparked debate among observers about the future of Middle East peace efforts, leaving many to wonder if their approach will prove sustainable in the face of mounting challenges.
Kushner, a key figure in Trump's administration, revealed that he and his co-conspirator had long harbored deep-seated doubts about the traditional approach to negotiating Middle East conflicts. "We didn't want to be beholden to conventional wisdom," Kushner said candidly. The result was an unapologetically unconventional strategy aimed at brokering a lasting peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
According to Witkoff, this marked a deliberate departure from the usual tactics employed by diplomats in the region. "We didn't just want to sit around the negotiating table; we wanted to get out of it," he quipped, underscoring their willingness to challenge traditional norms.
Their approach involved forging unprecedented relationships with key figures on both sides of the conflict, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This interpersonal rapport was seen as a crucial factor in bridging the gap between Israel's hawkish lobby and Hamas's Islamist ideology.
Critics have questioned the deal's validity, citing concerns over its lack of transparency and potential shortcomings on key issues such as Jerusalem's status and refugees' rights. However, Kushner and Witkoff maintained that their unorthodox strategy was a deliberate response to a long-stale diplomatic stalemate.
"We didn't want to be part of the problem; we wanted to be part of the solution," Kushner stated unequivocally. Their willingness to push boundaries has sparked debate among observers about the future of Middle East peace efforts, leaving many to wonder if their approach will prove sustainable in the face of mounting challenges.
. it sounds like they took a bunch of random ideas and mashed them together without really thinking about the consequences. and now everyone's all "oh, look at us, we got a peace accord!" 
but what about the real problems that need solving? did they even consider the long-term effects or just winged it and hoped for the best 
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I'm so worried about this Israel-Hamas deal... it feels like they're just making things up as they go along 
It's like, what about all the trauma and pain that these two leaders have caused for so many innocent people? Can we really just forget about that because Kushner and Witkoff say it's okay now? 
It feels like they're just giving us a bunch of vague promises and hoping for the best. 
. I mean, who wants to get out of the negotiating table? 
But seriously, it's interesting to see how they were able to build relationships with people on both sides and make them work. The key is being genuine and building trust, you know? 
they went out of their way 2 build relationships with key figures on both sides, and that took guts 
it's not always easy 2 navigate these complex conflicts, but I think their approach was worth a shot 
plus, who says u gotta sit around the negotiating table 2 get stuff done? 
. Like, you can't just go around forging relationships with key figures on both sides without knowing what the hell is going on. It's not like they're gonna be able to just magically solve all these deep-seated issues overnight 
. And what about the lobby stuff? How do they plan on bridging that gap? 
It sounds like a bunch of spin to me 
. And what about all these concerns over transparency and refugees' rights? Are those just gonna get swept under the rug or what? 
. I mean, come on, Kushner and Witkoff think they're so clever for not playing by the usual rules, but honestly, it just seems like they were winging it and hoping for the best 
. And don't even get me started on those relationships with key figures - I'm pretty sure it's a total recipe for disaster 
. And what about all those refugees still stuck in limbo? It's easy to promise change but where's the beef? 
and btw, Jerusalem's status is NOT up for grabs 
I mean, who needs conventional wisdom when you've got a whole lot of uncertainty hanging over your head? 
It's like trying to build a house on shaky ground – what if it all comes crashing down? 
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. And what about all those critics saying it's lacking in transparency? You can't just ignore potential pitfalls like that... I'm not saying their efforts are doomed to fail or anything, but let's keep things in perspective 
. Either way, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out 
. Still, I have to give Kushner and Witkoff credit for trying something new 
. It'll be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out in the long run 
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. We've seen so many failed attempts at traditional diplomacy that it's nice to see people willing to shake things up and try something new 
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. By forging personal relationships with key figures on both sides, they've created a foundation for meaningful dialogue 
. It's definitely not going to be easy, but if anyone can make it work, these two have the track record 
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. But at the same time, you can't help but wonder if this approach is gonna work in the long run 
They think forging relationships with Hamas and Netanyahu is gonna magically solve everything? Please, it's not that easy 
And what about all those "deep-seated doubts" about traditional approaches? Yeah sure, because trying to negotiate with extremists is always a great idea 
. Can't wait to see how this whole thing plays out, spoiler alert: it'll probably end in a big mess