Americans have taken to Twitter to ridicule Donald Trump’s assertion that he “would love to be the one who made peace with Israel and the Palestinians” and that his son-in-law could be the key to ending this century-old conflict.
It seems that after decades of negotiations, hundreds of UN resolutions and several wars, what they were missing was an American real-estate businessman who allegedly paid his way into Harvard. In fact, it seems that Jared Kushner’s only claim to be an appropriate choice for peace negotiator is the fact that he is a practicing Orthodox Jew.
The husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka, Kushner is reportedly worth $200 million, and is said to have been influential in ensuring the Republican’s successful election through gaining pro-Israeli support.
The comments have provoked concerns that the President-elect might not maintain a professional distinction between his family ties and public office.
Trump’s suggestion has raised eyebrows in America, and many have turned to satire in response:
"THAT'S what we've been missing! Jared Kushner! Oh joy!!" -- Israel & Palestine, simultaneously together, while holding hands https://t.co/ZX0usXk5LW
— (((Meadows))) (@JD_Meadows) November 23, 2016
@nytimes and to think, this whole time Israel and Palestine were just waiting for Jared Kushner to make everything great again.
— Alison Lee (@allie_lee20) November 23, 2016
#Kellyfile Really? Jared Kushner is the next Kissinger? Israel/Palestinian issue solved? This is getting crazy!
— Nate (@ItsElementary__) November 23, 2016
Jared Kushner is about as likely to make peace between Israel and Palestine as DJ Khaled
— los raiders 8 y 2 (@zayumbk) November 23, 2016
If Jared Kushner gets Israel and Palestine to chill out I'll cut off my arm.
— Steven Holmes (@_stvvvn_) November 22, 2016
I really love the image of Jared Kushner just being parachuted into the middle of Israel with some elbow grease and a dream.
— David Harris (@Hero_Complex) November 22, 2016
Trump’s election has been received very positively by Israeli leadership. The Israeli education Minister Naftali Bennett, quickly suggested that the potential formation of a Palestinian state “is over” now that Trump is in power. However, Trump’s campaign has been full of blatant racist rhetoric, including undertones of anti-Semitism. It remains to be seen, then, whether the American-Israeli relationship under Trump can overcome this tension.
From the Palestinian side, Trump's election is worrying. The President-elect suggested in September that he would move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed territory of Jerusalem.
We wait in anticipation for the magic touch of Jared Kushner to resolve apparently irreconcilable differences between the two sides.
RA
