StackSasquatch
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The article discusses the role of Jared Kushner, a close aide to President Donald Trump, in the administration's Middle East policy, particularly with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Here are some key points:
1. **Kushner's background**: Kushner was born into an Orthodox Jewish family and had no previous experience in diplomacy before being proposed by his father to join Trump's first administration.
2. **Middle East expertise**: Kushner claimed to have extensive knowledge of the region, having read 25 books on it and spoken to "every leader" in the area.
3. **Deal-making approach**: Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the president's Middle East envoy, were described as "deal guys" who understood the region and its players.
4. **Trump's support for Israel**: Trump's vocal support of Israel made it possible for Kushner and Witkoff to work closely with Arab leaders without estranging Netanyahu's government.
5. **Gaza redevelopment proposal**: Kushner floated a proposal to redevelop Gaza as a "vast beachfront property," which was later criticized by critics who accused Trump of promoting ethnic cleansing.
6. **Kushner's relationships with Netanyahu and Hamas**: Kushner had close ties with Netanyahu through his father, and he also met directly with Hamas without estranging Netanyahu's government.
7. **Corruption concerns**: Critics, including Matt Duss, described the influence-peddling in the administration as open corruption, and Aaron David Miller recalled Kushner's unsentimental approach to diplomacy.
Overall, the article suggests that Kushner played a significant role in shaping Trump's Middle East policy, particularly with regards to Israel-Palestine relations. However, his approach was criticized for being transactional and focused on personal relationships rather than a more nuanced understanding of the conflict.
1. **Kushner's background**: Kushner was born into an Orthodox Jewish family and had no previous experience in diplomacy before being proposed by his father to join Trump's first administration.
2. **Middle East expertise**: Kushner claimed to have extensive knowledge of the region, having read 25 books on it and spoken to "every leader" in the area.
3. **Deal-making approach**: Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the president's Middle East envoy, were described as "deal guys" who understood the region and its players.
4. **Trump's support for Israel**: Trump's vocal support of Israel made it possible for Kushner and Witkoff to work closely with Arab leaders without estranging Netanyahu's government.
5. **Gaza redevelopment proposal**: Kushner floated a proposal to redevelop Gaza as a "vast beachfront property," which was later criticized by critics who accused Trump of promoting ethnic cleansing.
6. **Kushner's relationships with Netanyahu and Hamas**: Kushner had close ties with Netanyahu through his father, and he also met directly with Hamas without estranging Netanyahu's government.
7. **Corruption concerns**: Critics, including Matt Duss, described the influence-peddling in the administration as open corruption, and Aaron David Miller recalled Kushner's unsentimental approach to diplomacy.
Overall, the article suggests that Kushner played a significant role in shaping Trump's Middle East policy, particularly with regards to Israel-Palestine relations. However, his approach was criticized for being transactional and focused on personal relationships rather than a more nuanced understanding of the conflict.