Kushner denies aid cuts to Palestinians hinder peace process
U.S. wont be scared out of doing the right thing, says Trump's top adviser
By MICHAEL WILNERUpdated: SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 19:39Jared Kushner (photo credit: REUTERS)
Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law tasked with jump-starting the Middle East peace process, says that his diplomatic effort has not been affected by recent punitive actions targeting the Palestinian Authority.In a rare on-record interview with the New York Times, Kushner said that the US administration was slaughtering sacred cows that, in his view, have actually obstructed past peace efforts.He spoke to the Times’ Mark Landler 25 years to the day after the Oslo Accords were signed at the White House— a moment that sparked hope of a permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.“There were too many false realities that were created— that people worship— that I think needed to be changed,” he said. “All we’re doing is dealing with things as we see them and not being scared out of doing the right thing. I think, as a result, you have a much higher chance of actually achieving a real peace.”Over the course of a few short weeks, the Trump administration has “redirected” US aid away from the West Bank and Gaza, from east Jerusalem hospitals and from the UN agency on Palestinian refugees, while also shuttering the PLO offices in Washington over Ramallah’s refusal to enter peace talks with Israel.“Nobody is entitled to America’s foreign aid,” Kushner added.The PA cut off contact with the Trump team after the president recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December of last year, moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv five months later.