Jared Kushner Has What Middle East Diplomacy Requires | Opinion

Jared Kushner, an unpaid volunteer for the Trump administration, recently traveled to Egypt and Israel alongside Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair. Having worked closely with Jared for nearly three years in the White House, the author knows his strong relationship with President Trump and his understanding of the president's negotiation style.

Critics once dismissed Jared as an outsider unfamiliar with the region, but years spent with current leadership have proven them wrong. Upon arriving in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu initially rejected the Board of Peace's 15-point roadmap, but after four hours of productive talks, both parties agreed on a path forward, including working groups on Gaza's demilitarization and public health.

Despite skepticism about Hamas's intentions, Jared's efforts have led to the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab countries. Some Democrats, like Jamie Raskin, argue that Jared's continued involvement in private business creates a conflict of interest, but no evidence has been presented to support this claim.

Critics argue that Congress should establish new rules, but the author believes that the current arrangement is justified, given Jared's expertise, relationships, and track record.