MAKOVSKY: Look I think you're hitting the nail on the head here. Do you see a value in having an economic conversation without the political element being part of that discussion? But the political proposal he's going to make will undoubtedly, whatever it contains, be much more controversial. And this first part of the conversation was just about the economic solution.
SHAPIRO: Kushner says the political solution is coming. But I don't want to nit-pick in a way that I think that there was some value in generating enthusiasm for the Palestinian economy in a way that hadn't been done. I mean, I think they could have used a more Palestinian-specific approach. MAKOVSKY: Well, I think some of those sessions were used to show in other countries there has been economic transformation. I mean, is that really the sort of thing that's going to get Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiating table, to a deal? I mean, for example, the president of FIFA, the soccer organization, talking about how sports can play a role in the peace process.
SHAPIRO: Some of the items on this agenda seemed unorthodox, let's say. But they basically accept the old paradigm. They rejuvenated enthusiasm, I think, here in Bahrain among the Gulf business community for an issue that has been relegated to the margins because the headlines have not focused on this issue. And sadly, though, whenever it's all or nothing, it's nothing. Ironically, the Trump administration, Jared Kushner and his critics share a common view that when it comes to the Middle East, it's either all or nothing. MAKOVSKY: It did not change the paradigm. Do you think this two-day conference did move anything forward? SHAPIRO: OK, Kushner says policy experts are stuck in a paradigm that never seems to move forward. He was invited to the conference as an observer.ĭAVID MAKOVSKY: Delighted to be with you, Ari. And to tell us whether Kushner has won anyone over, we are joined by David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. SHAPIRO: The conference ended in Bahrain earlier today. And so by bringing finance ministers in the business community, I was able to find a lot more people who see this problem the same way that I do, which is that it actually is a solvable problem economically. JARED KUSHNER: What I found is the more I've dealt with the traditional policy community on this, people are just stuck in a paradigm that never seems to move forward. Kushner hopes they will give $50 billion for economic development in Gaza and the West Bank. The guest list did include potential investors. Israeli and Palestinian leaders were not there.
The president's son-in-law and top adviser, Jared Kushner, faced a lot of skepticism heading into a two-day conference about ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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