TALKING TOUGH

Jared Kushner Slams Abbas in Rare Palestinian Interview

He says the Mideast peace plan is due “soon” but may be released without Palestinian input.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner has blasted Palestinian leadership and suggested the Mideast peace plan may exclude Palestinian contributions in a rare interview published Sunday. Speaking to the Al-Quds newspaper following a weeklong trip around the Mideast, Kushner said the peace plan is “almost done” and will soon be released if Palestinian leaders do not want to compromise. Kushner went on to accuse Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of being “scared we will release our peace plan and the Palestinian people will actually like it.” “The global community is getting frustrated with Palestinian leadership and not seeing many actions that are constructive toward achieving peace,” he said, adding that Abbas has offered only “a lot of sharp statements and condemnations.” Palestinian leaders have refused to negotiate with the Trump administration since the president recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move some saw as a clear sign of pro-Israel bias. Kushner offered few details on the Mideast peace plan to be unveiled but has made no mention of it envisioning a Palestinian state alongside Israel.