Jordan has so far not announced whether it will participate in the June conference, and remains a key political and diplomatic player whose lead other Arab states could follow
WASHINGTON — Senior Trump adviser Jared Kushner will visit Amman on Wednesday and is expected to meet with King Abdullah II, Jordanian media outlets have reported.
The meeting between the two will likely revolve around the administration’s plan for Middle East peace and the economic conference scheduled to take place in Bahrain next month. The workshop is being boycotted by the Palestinian Authority.
The Trump administration’s small team working on the Middle East peace plan — which is led by Kushner — is currently locked in a battle with the PA over how the Arab world will respond to its plan.
The Palestinians hope Arab countries will support their position and reject the plan, which they believe will be one-sided and skewed in favor of Israel. The administration, meanwhile, hopes to convince as many Arab nations as possible to at least consider the plan as a basis for negotiations.
Jordan is a key player in this political and diplomatic battle for several reasons. Historically, it is responsible for safeguarding Islam’s holy sites in Jerusalem; it has a peace treaty with Israel; and a majority of its citizens are Palestinians. A Jordanian rejection of the peace plan could make it harder for other Arab countries to embrace it, whereas flexibility toward the plan by Amman will likely make it easier for others to follow suit.
Amman has so far not announced whether or not it will participate in the economic conference on June 25-26, which will focus on the future of the Palestinian economy. The Trump administration will release the economic chapter of the peace plan before the conference, but not the political part, which deals with more sensitive aspects of the conflict.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their regional rival Qatar have already told the Trump administration they will attend. Meanwhile, a senior PA official stated Monday that both China and Russia will be boycotting the event.
At the beginning of the month, two senior U.S. senators — Mitt Romney (Republican of Utah) and Chris Murphy (Democrat of Connecticut) returned from a trip to Jordan and warned that the Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan could destabilize the kingdom.
Last month, the Kuwaiti daily newspaper Al-Qabas published a sensational report that “the [Jordanian] kingdom was saved from a dangerous plot” whose goal was to shake up the country by organizing mass protests, expanding criticism of the king over his method of appointing prime ministers and his opposition to Trump’s peace plan.
In response, the report said, King Abdullah II fired several senior officials, including the general intelligence chief, in a move thatsome commentators linked to the looming peace deal.
“Kushner meets Jordan king in push for US peace plan.” Article in 5/29 Arutz Sheva (yesterday Israel time).
Contrary what Mudar apparently has told Ted. The King of Jordan is very much in the loop with Trump’s team. The King is stating his own views in which he plays both sides of the stick, speaking in favor of two state solution but unlike Abbas making sure he speaks politely to the USA team but says what he wants.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2019/05/29/jordan-stands-by-two-state-solution/
The latest from Israel Hayom: “Jordan very likely to participate in Bahrain peace workshop.” https://www.israelhayom.com/2019/05/29/jordan-stands-by-two-state-solution/
@ Adam Dalglish:
They will be well guarded.
@ Bear Klein: Not only Kushner but Greenblatt were part of the delegation that went to Jordan of their way to Bahrain. I hope they are well guarded. Their assassinations would be a terrible blow to Israel and the United States.
Kushner met with the King in Jordan today. I have seen photos.
@ Ted Belman:
The PA was invited to Bahrain. Again I am not making this up as there are sources.
Whole article found at https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-officially-refuse-invitation-to-us-economic-peace-summit-in-bahrain/
What I take from both the posts above and the news outlets is that whilst Kushner may be going to Jordan to have a chat with Humpty Dumpty, the kinglet was not invited to travel to the Bahrain Conference. .So Kushner is likely just getting a “wish list” from the little guy which he may or may not mention at the Conference.
I also have vague feeling that the pallywoggles may have refused an expected invitation before it was proffered….a split-second either way….But i’d be surprised if Jordan with it’s Jew-Hate would support any peace treaty that would,benefit Israel. Unless massively bribed-that is. and even then…..?
Seems logical to me.
Bear Klein Said:
I do believe that the PA was not invited but Palestinian businessmen were invited but the PA wouldn’t let them attend.
As for meeting with Abdullah, let’s see if it actually happens. I will also check my source to see it I understood it right.
@ Ted Belman:
You had also said the PA was not invited but this was not accurate. They were invited but refused loudly to attend.
How do you know the King was not invited?
Kushner is visiting the King it is widely reported. Here is commentary about the situation. You may check out the link and if you do a google search you will find many sources.
Kushner is going to Morroco, Israel, Jordan before going to Bahrain to discuss the rollout of their plan.
i BELIEVE THIS TO BE A PHONY STORY..
The King is not going to Bahrain. He wasn’t invited. And Kushner is not going to the King. This story didn’t originate with Trump or his people.
I hope to God Kushner is well guarded. I am sure there are a lot of people who would love to kill him. If he is assassinated, it will be a disaster for both America and Israel. Trump relies heavily on his advice and diplomatic skills, and may be lost without him.