White House senior adviser Jared Kushner touted the prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian peace process at the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, even as mass protests raged on the border of Israel and Gaza.
“Those provoking violence are part of the problem and not part of the solution,” Kushner said at the embassy dedication. “We believe that it is possible for both sides to gain more than they give so that all people can live in peace, safe from danger, free from fear, and able to pursue their dreams.”
Kushner has played a leading role in the development of a U.S. peace plan, but the White House has yet to unveil the proposal. Palestinian leaders insist President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has disqualified the United States from brokering the talks. The dedication of the embassy on Monday took place against a backdrop of violent protests that saw dozens of Palestinians killed.
“Throughout history, Jerusalem has been a victim of war and conquest,” Kushner said. “It has been used to divide people and to instigate conflict by those with evil intentions but it does not have to be this way. Jerusalem must remain a city that brings people of all faiths together, to visit, to worship, to respect each other, and to appreciate the majesty of history and the glory of God’s creation.”
