US Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner has expressed doubts about the Palestinians‘ ability to govern themselves. There is only the hope that they „can become able to govern in time,“ said Kushner the US news portal Axios to the question of whether he considers a Palestinian self-government without Israeli influence possible.
Asked if the Palestinians could expect complete freedom from Israeli government and military, Kushner said, „I believe the bar is high.“ The Palestinians have „no proper governance and adequate security.“ People lived in „fear and terror.“ Scare“. Kushner is working on a Middle East peace plan.
Recorded before the Middle East trip
Axios published the transcript of the interview with Kushner last night. The conversation had been recorded last week before US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law’s trip to the Middle East. Kushner had sought in Israel, Morocco and Jordan for allies for his plan to resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Palestinian territories are currently not attractive for investors, Kushner said. This requires a fair justice system, freedom of the press and expression, and religious tolerance. Nevertheless, the Palestinians should have „self-determination,“ Kushner said. What exactly he means, he left open.
Pompeo sees Plan skeptical
Only a few details of Kushner’s peace plan are known so far. The plan, however, is not to speak of „two states“, which had provoked sharp criticism among Palestinians. According to a newspaper report, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is skeptical of the plan: „He could be turned down,“ Pompeo said at a meeting with senior representatives of the Jewish community in the US, according to a Washington Post report.
The Washington Post relies on a sound recording of the meeting. US Secretary of State Pompeo said at the meeting with the top representatives of Jewish US organizations that he understood that some believed that only Israel could be happy about the US proposals. He hopes everyone will give the plan a chance and „listen“. The plan was originally due to be released after the Israeli general election on April 9, but should be delayed further with the new election.
