Jared Kushner to lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia, Qatar
According to administration officials, the main objective of the meeting is trying to ease the tensions between Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states with Qatar.
By OMRI NAHMIASWhite House senior adviser Jared Kushner (L) meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (R) during his visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 1, 2020(photo credit: SAUDI PRESS AGENCY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
WASHINGTON - A White House delegation, spearheaded by senior advisor to the president Jared Kushner, will travel to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week, The Jerusalem Post has confirmed. Special Representative for International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz, Brian Hook and Adam Boehler are expected to join him as well.In Riyadh, they will meet with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and other senior Saudi officials. They will also meet the Emir of Qatar and other Qatari officials.According to a person familiar with the travel plan, the meeting's main objective is to ease the tensions between Qatar and Saudi Arabia along with other Gulf states. An administration official said this rift undermines the stability in the region and has the potential to undermine the progress made in the Abraham Accords. There is still a significant opportunity for achievements in the Middle East, the official said.Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Neom, Saudi Arabia, the Post reported, according to Israeli sources.Netanyahu, along with Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat and Netanyahu’s Military Secretary Avi Bluth, used a private plane belonging to businessman Udi Angel, which the prime minister has used for past diplomatic trips. The plane left Israel at 5 p.m. on Sunday and returned after midnight.The Israeli and Saudi sides discussed Iran and normalization, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a senior Saudi adviser.
