Jared Kushner aims to build support for 'deal of the century' with Mideast trip - NBC News

Breaking News Emails

Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.

SUBSCRIBE

May 29, 2019, 12:57 PM UTC / Updated May 29, 2019, 1:03 PM UTC

By F. Brinley Bruton and Lawahez Jabari

LONDON — Jared Kushner is traveling in the Middle East this week to drum up support for President Donald Trump's long-awaited Israel-Palestinian peace plan.

But the Trump senior adviser's trip takes place as the U.S prepares to unveil the economic portion of the “deal of the century” at a conference in Bahrain next month and could not come at a worse time.

Not only does Kushner’s team face near-unanimous Palestinian condemnation, he's looking at an uphill battle in winning widespread support across the Middle East.

And if that weren’t enough, Kushner is flying straight into an unprecedented impasse in Israeli politics that will undoubtedly distract from sealing a deal.

'A completely insane position'

After a short stop in Jordan on Wednesday, Kushner is set to visit Israel on Thursday — but who will he speaking to? The parliament has been dissolved ahead of a midnight deadline to see if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can form a coalition government, a task that looks increasingly difficult since one of his most prominent potential coalition partners broke with him.

If Netanyahu fails, Israel will hold its second election of the year.

“In next few hours there might not be a government — we’ve gotten into a completely insane position,” said Yossi Mekelberg, a professor of international relations at Regent's University in London. “This is not about the Palestinians anymore.”

The dissolution of the Knesset could stop attempts by Netanyahu’s Likud party to grant him immunity from prosecution.

Netanyahu hasn't yet been indicted but Israel's attorney general announced in February that he plans to do so in the wake of a two-year corruption investigation. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing.

Feb. 28, 201901:01

The situation leaves Israeli politicians with little bandwidth to engage, as well as diminished authority.

On Monday, Trump tweeted his support for Netanyahu, who is perhaps the president's closest ally on the international stage.

No way, Palestinians say

Little is known about the deal that Kushner and envoy Jason Greenblatt have been working on for more than two years, but their public statements indicate the plan relies heavily on economic solutions, and not political ones.

Palestinian President Mahmoud AbbasMajdi Mohammed / Reuters file

The Palestinians have repeatedly spelled out they aren't even coming into the shop to see what Kushner is selling.

"The 'deal of the century' or the deal of shame will go to hell, with God's will, and the economic project they are working on next month will go to hell too," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said earlier this week. "Whoever wants to solve the Palestinian issue must start with the political issue, not by selling the illusions of billions" of dollars.

The borders of a Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem, the future of Palestinian refugees, and Israeli security demands are all longstanding priorities for Palestinian leaders.

While a two-state solution is broadly supported by the international community, recent comments by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have thrown into question U.S. support for the concept.

To make matters worse, the Palestinians aren’t even on speaking terms with Washington after their leadership cut ties in response to Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in 2017.

The Trump administration has also halted funding for UNRWA, the United Nations agency that has supported Palestinian refugees for seven decades, and other projects — deepening the hardship and desperation of millions of Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip, and occupied east Jerusalem and the West Bank.

“We can build our own country,” said Sam Bahour, a Palestinian-American business consultant based in Ramallah in the West Bank. “The only thing that is stopping us from doing that is getting the Israelis to remove this occupation so we have a chance to build our economy.”

Despite dire financial straits faced by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, many experts agree that prioritizing economic development without a political framework that addresses basic Palestinian demands for human and other rights and an independent state will not work.

Palestinian demonstrators hurl rocks at Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip on May 15.Said Khatib / AFP - Getty Images file

"It seems as though the administration will turn around after this workshop [in Bahrain] and say it failed because the Palestinians did not come to the table,” Bahour said. “But there is no table there, the U.S. administration took the table away when they took Jerusalem off the table, and they tried to take the refugee issue off the table.”

Gulf monarchies warm, Arab public cool

Kushner has succeeded in bringing an unprecedented amount of Arab support for the idea of a deal. That next month's conference is being held in an Arab country — Bahrain — is significant in itself given than not a single Gulf monarchy has official diplomatic relations with Israel. However, Israel's neighbors Egypt and Jordan have not confirmed they will attend, and China and Russia are skipping the event.

But Anwar Gargash, the minister of state for foreign affairs in the United Arab Emirates, recently told journalists that "dialogue with Israel is a positive thing."

And the editor-in-chief of the Arab News — a Saudi newspaper with close ties to the country's ruling royal family — recently urged the Palestinians to give the Trump plan a chance.

March 28, 201906:13

But support from Gulf monarchies only goes so far, and many countries in the region are in a serious bind, according to Jonathan Eyal, international director at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank.

Heavily reliant on the U.S. for political and military support, countries like Jordan will find it difficult to say no to the invitation to Kushner's conference, Eyal said. But the Palestinian issue resonates deeply with the Arab public and it is tricky for leaders to embrace a plan that does not promise a Palestinian state.

"Relations between Arab monarchies and Israel are flourishing, but the reality is they are flourishing behind the scenes, under the table," Eyal said. "There is a simple explanation for that ... in public policy terms and reputational terms, such contact with Israel will do nothing for the credibility of Arab governments. What does that tell us? It tells us in practical terms it would be difficult to get a deal which pacifies the Middle East without answering the Palestinian question.”

Brinley Bruton reported from London, and Lawahez Jabari from Jerusalem.

F. Brinley Bruton

F. Brinley Bruton is a London-based senior editor for NBC News Digital. She focuses on news from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Lawahez Jabari

Lawahez Jabari is a producer based in Tel Aviv. She has covered the Middle East conflict — on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides — for more than a decade. 

Paul Goldman, Associated Press and Reuters contributed.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/jared-kushner-aims-build-support-deal-century-mideast-trip-n1011281

2019-05-29 12:57:00Z
52780305002880

Iran 'almost certainly' sabotaged ships off UAE, Bolton says - Fox News

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said Wednesday that ships sabotaged off the United Arab Emirates coast were attacked “almost certainly by Iran” and warned that the U.S. would strike back if attacked.

Bolton made the comments to journalists in Abu Dhabi ahead of planned meetings with Emirati officials. His statement echoes Pentagon officials who said Friday that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were directly responsible for attacks on the tankers.

PENTAGON SAYS IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS RESPONSIBLE FOR OIL TANKER ATTACKS

“The attack against the shipping in Fujairah we attribute it to the IRGC,” said Rear Admiral Michael Gilday, the director of the Joint Staff. He added that the Pentagon attributed limpet mines used in the attack to the IRGC.

Bolton said that the U.S. hasn’t seen any further attacks by the Iranian regime after the Trump administration dispatched an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf.

“The point is to make it very clear to Iran and its surrogates that these kinds of actions risk a very strong response from the United States,” Bolton said.

“The point is to make it very clear to Iran and its surrogates that these kinds of actions risk a very strong response from the United States.”

— John Bolton

Iran called Bolton’s accusations “laughable” while the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, “We hope that we can start a dialogue, but we are ready for war,” according to Russian state media.

He noted that “certain elements” in the Trump administration are advocating for war with Iran, but said conflict would be “catastrophic” for the Middle East and insisted that the regime seeks peace.

“We know that there are certain elements and people who are trying to push the United States to war with Iran for their own ends. However, we hope that wisdom will prevail in Washington,” he said.

“We hope that we can start a dialogue, but we are ready for war.”

— Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been brewing after the U.S. intelligence indicated that there are unspecified threats to U.S. interests. Trump said Friday that the U.S. will deploy an additional 1,500 troops to the region.

IRAN SEEKING TO EXPAND MILITARY PROGRAM TO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: GERMAN INTELLIGENCE

In addition, all non-essential U.S. staff at the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Iraq were forced to leave, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggesting that Iranian-backed militia groups moved their rockets near bases housing American personnel.

The Iranian regime, meanwhile, responded with threats to back away from the 2015 nuclear deal that sought to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The regime set a July 7 deadline for Europe to offer better terms to the unraveling nuclear deal, otherwise, it will resume enrichment closer to weapons level.

Trump withdrew from the agreement amid criticism that the deal didn’t do enough to limit Iran’s nuclear program, nor did it address Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Bolton accused Iran of wanting to back away from the deal with other world powers because the regime wants to produce nuclear weapons.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

“There’s no reason for them to do any of that unless that’s part of an effort to reduce the breakout time to produce nuclear weapons,” he said. “That’s a very serious issue if they continue to do that.”

“This is just more graphic evidence that it hasn’t constrained their continuing desire to have nuclear weapons,” Bolton added. “It certainly hasn’t reduced their terrorist activities in the region that we just discussed or their other malign behavior in their use of conventional forces.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-sabotage-ships-uae-john-bolton

2019-05-29 12:17:18Z
52780305407456

Iran 'almost certainly' sabotaged ships off UAE, Bolton says - Fox News

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said Wednesday that ships sabotaged off the United Arab Emirates coast were attacked “almost certainly by Iran” and warned that the U.S. would strike back if attacked.

Bolton made the comments to journalists in Abu Dhabi ahead of planned meetings with Emirati officials. His statement echoes Pentagon officials who said Friday that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were directly responsible for attacks on the tankers.

PENTAGON SAYS IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS RESPONSIBLE FOR OIL TANKER ATTACKS

“The attack against the shipping in Fujairah we attribute it to the IRGC,” said Rear Admiral Michael Gilday, the director of the Joint Staff. He added that the Pentagon attributed limpet mines used in the attack to the IRGC.

Bolton said that the U.S. hasn’t seen any further attacks by the Iranian regime after the Trump administration dispatched an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf.

“The point is to make it very clear to Iran and its surrogates that these kinds of actions risk a very strong response from the United States,” Bolton said.

“The point is to make it very clear to Iran and its surrogates that these kinds of actions risk a very strong response from the United States.”

— John Bolton

Iran called Bolton’s accusations “laughable” while the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, “We hope that we can start a dialogue, but we are ready for war,” according to Russian state media.

He noted that “certain elements” in the Trump administration are advocating for war with Iran, but said conflict would be “catastrophic” for the Middle East and insisted that the regime seeks peace.

“We know that there are certain elements and people who are trying to push the United States to war with Iran for their own ends. However, we hope that wisdom will prevail in Washington,” he said.

“We hope that we can start a dialogue, but we are ready for war.”

— Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been brewing after the U.S. intelligence indicated that there are unspecified threats to U.S. interests. Trump said Friday that the U.S. will deploy an additional 1,500 troops to the region.

IRAN SEEKING TO EXPAND MILITARY PROGRAM TO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: GERMAN INTELLIGENCE

In addition, all non-essential U.S. staff at the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Iraq were forced to leave, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggesting that Iranian-backed militia groups moved their rockets near bases housing American personnel.

The Iranian regime, meanwhile, responded with threats to back away from the 2015 nuclear deal that sought to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The regime set a July 7 deadline for Europe to offer better terms to the unraveling nuclear deal, otherwise, it will resume enrichment closer to weapons level.

Trump withdrew from the agreement amid criticism that the deal didn’t do enough to limit Iran’s nuclear program, nor did it address Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Bolton accused Iran of wanting to back away from the deal with other world powers because the regime wants to produce nuclear weapons.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

“There’s no reason for them to do any of that unless that’s part of an effort to reduce the breakout time to produce nuclear weapons,” he said. “That’s a very serious issue if they continue to do that.”

“This is just more graphic evidence that it hasn’t constrained their continuing desire to have nuclear weapons,” Bolton added. “It certainly hasn’t reduced their terrorist activities in the region that we just discussed or their other malign behavior in their use of conventional forces.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-sabotage-ships-uae-john-bolton

2019-05-29 11:58:44Z
52780305407456

Boris Johnson Is Summoned to Court Over Brexit Claims - The New York Times

LONDON — Boris Johnson, the front-runner to replace Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain, was ordered on Wednesday to appear in court for a preliminary hearing over allegations that he lied to the public during the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Mr. Johnson, a former foreign secretary under Mrs. May, has been accused of misconduct in public office over several claims, including the implication that Britain paid 350 million pounds, or $440 million, every week to the European Union for the country’s membership.

The £350 million figure was a central theme of the pro-Brexit campaign, which promised to invest that amount into the nation’s health service should Britain vote to leave the bloc.

The prosecution of Mr. Johnson was made possible by the businessman Marcus Ball, who raised more than £200,000 pounds to provide the financial backing to pursue the case. Mr. Ball’s lawyers said that Mr. Johnson’s conduct had been both “irresponsible and dishonest.”

No one from Mr. Johnson’s office could immediately be reached for comment. But he has denied wrongdoing, and his lawyers have argued that the case was a political stunt by opponents of Brexit.

In a written ruling, District Judge Margot Coleman of Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London said that Mr. Johnson should be summoned to court, while noting that the accusations had not been proven and she had not made any findings of the fact.

“Having considered all the relevant factors, I am satisfied that this is a proper case to issue the summons as requested for the three offenses as drafted,” Judge Coleman said. “This means the proposed defendant will be required to attend this court for a preliminary hearing, and the case will then be sent to the Crown Court for trial.”

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/world/europe/boris-johnson-brexit-court.html

2019-05-29 11:34:27Z
52780305523007

Boris Johnson Is Summoned to Court Over Brexit Claims - The New York Times

LONDON — Boris Johnson, the front-runner to replace Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain, was ordered on Wednesday to appear in court for a preliminary hearing over allegations that he lied to the public during the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Mr. Johnson, a former foreign secretary under Mrs. May, has been accused of misconduct in public office over several claims, including the inference that Britain paid 350 million pounds, or $440 million, every week to the European Union for the country’s membership.

The £350 million figure was a central theme of the pro-Brexit campaign, which promised to invest that amount into the nation’s health service should Britain vote to leave the bloc.

The prosecution of Mr. Johnson was made possible by the businessman Marcus Ball, who raised more than £200,000 pounds to provide the financial backing to pursue the case. Mr. Ball’s lawyers said that Mr. Johnson’s conduct had been both “irresponsible and dishonest.”

No one from Mr. Johnson’s office could immediately be reached for comment. But he has denied wrongdoing, and his lawyers have argued that the case was a political stunt by opponents of Brexit.

In a written ruling, District Judge Margot Coleman of Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London said that Mr. Johnson should be summoned to court, while noting that the accusations had not been proven and she had not made any findings of the fact.

“Having considered all the relevant factors, I am satisfied that this is a proper case to issue the summons as requested for the three offenses as drafted,” Judge Coleman said. “This means the proposed defendant will be required to attend this court for a preliminary hearing, and the case will then be sent to the Crown Court for trial.”

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/world/europe/boris-johnson-brexit-court.html

2019-05-29 11:32:21Z
52780305523007

Iran 'almost certainly' sabotaged ships off UAE, Bolton says - Fox News

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said Wednesday that ships sabotaged off the United Arab Emirates coast were attacked “almost certainly by Iran” and warned that the U.S. would strike back if attacked.

Bolton made the comments to journalists in Abu Dhabi ahead of planned meetings with Emirati officials. His statement echoes Pentagon officials who said Friday that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were directly responsible for attacks on the tankers.

PENTAGON SAYS IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS RESPONSIBLE FOR OIL TANKER ATTACKS

“The attack against the shipping in Fujairah we attribute it to the IRGC,” said Rear Admiral Michael Gilday, the director of the Joint Staff. He added that the Pentagon attributed limpet mines used in the attack to the IRGC.

Bolton said that the U.S. hasn’t seen any further attacks by the Iranian regime after the Trump administration dispatched an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf.

“The point is to make it very clear to Iran and its surrogates that these kinds of actions risk a very strong response from the United States,” Bolton said.

“The point is to make it very clear to Iran and its surrogates that these kinds of actions risk a very strong response from the United States.”

— John Bolton

Iran called Bolton’s accusations “laughable” while the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, “We hope that we can start a dialogue, but we are ready for war,” according to Russian state media.

He noted that “certain elements” in the Trump administration are advocating for war with Iran, but said conflict would be “catastrophic” for the Middle East and insisted that the regime seeks peace.

“We know that there are certain elements and people who are trying to push the United States to war with Iran for their own ends. However, we hope that wisdom will prevail in Washington,” he said.

“We hope that we can start a dialogue, but we are ready for war.”

— Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been brewing after the U.S. intelligence indicated that there are unspecified threats to U.S. interests. Trump said Friday that the U.S. will deploy an additional 1,500 troops to the region.

IRAN SEEKING TO EXPAND MILITARY PROGRAM TO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: GERMAN INTELLIGENCE

In addition, all non-essential U.S. staff at the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Iraq were forced to leave, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggesting that Iranian-backed militia groups moved their rockets near bases housing American personnel.

The Iranian regime, meanwhile, responded with threats to back away from the 2015 nuclear deal that sought to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The regime set a July 7 deadline for Europe to offer better terms to the unraveling nuclear deal, otherwise, it will resume enrichment closer to weapons level.

Trump withdrew from the agreement amid criticism that the deal didn’t do enough to limit Iran’s nuclear program, nor did it address Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Bolton accused Iran of wanting to back away from the deal with other world powers because the regime wants to produce nuclear weapons.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

“There’s no reason for them to do any of that unless that’s part of an effort to reduce the breakout time to produce nuclear weapons,” he said. “That’s a very serious issue if they continue to do that.”

“This is just more graphic evidence that it hasn’t constrained their continuing desire to have nuclear weapons,” Bolton added. “It certainly hasn’t reduced their terrorist activities in the region that we just discussed or their other malign behavior in their use of conventional forces.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-sabotage-ships-uae-john-bolton

2019-05-29 11:29:17Z
52780305407456

Nepal Says Everest Rules Might Change After Traffic Jams and Deaths - The New York Times

KATHMANDU, Nepal — After human traffic jams at the top of Mount Everest and an aggressive, unruly atmosphere that has been described as “a zoo,” Nepalese officials said on Wednesday that they were considering changing the rules about who was allowed up the world’s highest mountain.

“It’s time to review all the old laws,” said Yagya Raj Sunuwar, a member of Parliament.

Until now, just about anyone could get a permit to climb Mount Everest. But this year has been marred by pileups at the top and a surge of inexperienced climbers who have caused delays and other problems along the steep, rocky and incredibly dangerous ascent.

At least 11 climbers have died on Everest this year, making this season one of the deadliest ever. Veteran climbers say that many of the deaths were needless and that the increasing number of inexperienced climbers who try to tackle Everest are making it more dangerous for everyone.

Several government officials in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, said Thursday that they were analyzing what happened and leaning toward requiring all climbers to submit proof of mountaineering experience and a verifiable certificate of good health.

“Certainly there will be some change in the expedition sector,” said Mira Acharya, a senior official with Nepal’s tourism department. “We are discussing reforming some issues, including setting criteria for every Everest hopeful.’’

At a recent meeting, she said, “we raised the issue of inexperienced climbers.’’

Mount Everest is a huge block of ice and rock along the Nepal-China border. China also runs expeditions to the top. This year, there have been two deaths on the Chinese side, compared with nine on the Nepal side.

Climbers who recently summited Everest from the Nepal side described a “Lord of the Flies” atmosphere with mobs of people in huge down jackets perched on the summit, pushing and shoving to take selfies.

The path to the top is so narrow and steep, climbers had to step precariously around others who had fallen ill or died. Some apparently ran out of bottled oxygen, partly because of the crowd of climbers trying to get to the top at the same time.

That caused delays, with climbers forced to wait in the snow for hours, at heights of more than 28,000 feet, as their limited supply of compressed oxygen slowly ran out and their energy faded.

Several climbers described a ruthless pursuit of the summit in which other climbers refused to share the essentials of life — water and oxygen.

Amit Chowdhury, the president of the safety commission at the International Mountaineering Federation, said that the rules on some other mountains empowered guides to stop a climber from ascending if the guide felt the climber might not make it.

But, he said, “at Everest, it is not the same — you can hire a Sherpa on the streets of Kathmandu, or your travel agent says, ‘Here is your Sherpa,’ that’s it.”

“There is no way to know whether that Sherpa can judge and determine the capability of the person who is climbing,” he added.

Nepal is one of Asia’s poorest countries, and even Everest, the jewel of its tourism economy, has been marred by corruption scandals and scams.

Last year, media organizations and insurance companies exposed a conspiracy by some guides, helicopter companies, teahouse owners and hospitals to bilk millions of dollars from insurance companies by pushing trekkers with even minor signs of altitude sickness to use costly evacuation services.

Under Nepal’s current rules — climbers say China is stricter — all climbers must submit a copy of their passport, limited biographical data and a certificate showing they are healthy enough to make it to the top.

But Nepali officials admitted they did not have a way of verifying the health information before granting a permit. Foreigners pay $11,000 for the permits, though the costs for guides, equipment, food and lodging for the entire expedition can easily surpass $50,000. Nepali climbers pay about $700 for a permit.

Nepali officials said Thursday that the climbing season was now over, as scheduled, and that there were no more climbers on the upper parts of the mountain.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/world/asia/mount-everest.html

2019-05-29 09:40:16Z
52780303656924