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U.S. Peace Team Head: "The Global Community Is Getting Frustrated with Palestinian Leadership"

(Al-Quds-PA) Interview with Jared Kushner - President Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the head of the White House Middle East peace team, gave an interview on Friday to Al-Quds, the most popular Palestinian daily newspaper. Q: What are the points in the U.S. peace plan that are most important to the Arab leaders? Kushner: "They conveyed they want to see a Palestinian state with a capital in east Jerusalem....They want to see a deal that respects the dignity of the Palestinians and brings about a realistic solution to the issues that have been debated for decades." "At the end of the day, I believe that Palestinian people are less invested in the politicians' talking points than they are in seeing how a deal will give them and their future generations new opportunities, more and better paying jobs and prospects for a better life....Without the people pushing the politicians to focus on their needs and giving them the courage to take a chance, this will never be solved." "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." "I don't think the Palestinian people feel like their lives are getting better and there is only so long you can blame that on everyone other than Palestinian leadership. The global community is getting frustrated with Palestinian leadership and not seeing many actions that are constructive towards achieving peace." "Think about the prospects for the Palestinian people over a 5-20-year horizon if they get massive investments in modern infrastructure, job training and economic stimulus....The Palestinian people are industrious, well-educated, and adjacent to the Silicon Valley of the Middle East - Israel. Israel's prosperity would spill over very quickly to the Palestinians if there is peace." Q: If you could deliver a message directly to the Palestinian people, what would it be? Kushner: "Don't allow your grandfather's conflict to determine your children's future. My dream is for the Israeli and Palestinian people to be the closest of allies in combatting terror, economic achievement, advancements in science and technology, and in sharing a lifestyle of brotherhood, peace and prosperity."
2018-06-25 00:00:00
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