Jared Kushner says Trump peace plan won’t include Saudi initiative

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his commitment to the historic alliance between their two countries, adding: “Israel is our cherished ally."

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Updated: FEBRUARY 15, 2019 01:56
Jared Kushner looks on during the Middle East summit in Warsaw, Poland, February 14, 2019 (photo credit: KACPER PEMPEL/REUTERS)
Jared Kushner looks on during the Middle East summit in Warsaw, Poland, February 14, 2019
(photo credit: KACPER PEMPEL/REUTERS)
WARSAW – US special envoy Jared Kushner confirmed Thursday that US President Donald Trump’s peace plan won’t be based on past international understanding such as the 2002 Saudi initiative, which the international community and the Palestinians have long touted as the basis of a two-state solution.
“I think it was a great initiative, in 2002 when it was done, but it hasn’t produced peace, so if that was the framework under which something would be accomplished then I think that would have been accomplished a long time ago, and then I wouldn’t be doing the duty I’m doing right now to try to bring the people together,” Kushner reportedly said behind closed doors at the Warsaw summit. His words were leaked to the Israeli media.
He also confirmed that the Trump peace plan would not be published until after the April 9 election.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Kushner had dismissed the Saudi peace plan and spoken of a rollout date after the elections, when he gave a private briefing to Israeli reporters on the sidelines of the Warsaw summit.
He said Kushner had not provided any specific details about the plan and Netanyahu ducked a question about territorial concessions.
At a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, Netanyahu said he looked  forward to receiving Trump’s peace plan. The Palestinians boycotted the meeting in Warsaw.
Netanyahu met with Kushner, US envoy Jason Greenblatt and Pence at the Museum of the History of the Polish Jews in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto.
Prior to the meeting, Netanyahu said he was looking forward to receiving the plan.
“I will look at it once it is presented. I have to say that I know the Trump administration seeks to insure the security of Israel for generations,” he said.
The Palestinians boycotted the meeting, which deal primarily with Iran.

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Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Aljubeir tweeted after the Warsaw summit that he had spoken in support of the 2002 initiative. That plan called for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the pre-1967 lines, in exchange for normalized ties with Israel.


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