Kushner heads to Israel for crisis talks as Netanyahu rift widens

Jared Kushner is set to arrive in Israel on Sunday as part of a high-level diplomatic mission aimed at resolving escalating tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The former US presidential adviser will be accompanied by Tony Blair, the Middle East envoy, and Nikolai Mladenov, the UN’s Middle East peace coordinator. The three officials are expected to hold direct talks with Netanyahu to address disagreements over the future of Hamas and the terms of any Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.

According to sources within the Peace Council, the visit represents a significant diplomatic push to break the deadlock between international mediators and the Israeli government over post-conflict arrangements in Gaza. The discussions are expected to centre on contentious issues including the complete dismantling of Hamas’s military and governmental structures, and the phased nature of any Israeli troop pullback.

Following their meetings in Jerusalem, Kushner, Blair and Mladenov are scheduled to travel to Cairo to continue negotiations with Egyptian officials. Egypt has played a crucial intermediary role throughout the conflict, and the Egyptian leg of the mission is expected to focus on coordinating a unified international position on reconstruction and governance in Gaza.

The diplomatic mission underscores growing international concern about the prolonged nature of the conflict and attempts to chart a path forward that addresses both Israeli security concerns and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The involvement of such high-profile figures suggests the stakes are considered significant in brokering a sustainable resolution.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.