President Trump’s special envoy for Mideast peace, Jason Greenblatt, is departing from his role ahead of the White House’s release of its long-awaited plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Greenblatt worked closely with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman on the plan, which at one stage featured regional land swaps involving neighboring Arab countries.
An attorney and a father of six, Greenblatt was a long-serving senior aide in an administration defined by rapid staff turnover. He earned the top White House salary of $183,000.
“After almost 3 years in my Administration, Jason Greenblatt will be leaving to pursue work in the private sector. Jason has been a loyal and great friend and fantastic lawyer,” Trump wrote on Twitter.
“His dedication to Israel and to seeking peace between Israel and the Palestinians won’t be forgotten. He will be missed. Thank you Jason!” the president added.
After almost 3 years in my Administration, Jason Greenblatt will be leaving to pursue work in the private sector. Jason has been a loyal and great friend and fantastic lawyer….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2019
The pending peace proposal, originally due for release after Ramadan ended in June, is now expected sometime after Israel’s Sept. 17 parliamentary election.
An “economic” portion of the peace plan was released in June, along with a workshop in Bahrain intended to channel investment from wealthy Arab states into Palestinian territories. But Palestinian representatives boycotted the workshop.
The higher-profile “political” peace proposal, which will address issues such as national boundaries and the control of religious sites, was delayed due to Israel’s inconclusive parliamentary election in April.
If Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Trump ally, wins a majority in this month’s election, the stage would be set for releasing the political plan.
Greenblatt, who is Jewish, was controversial for downplaying the importance of Zionist settlements in the West Bank that Israel has occupied since 1967.
“We might get there if people stop pretending settlements, or what I prefer to call ‘neighborhoods and cities,’ are the reason for the lack of peace,” Greenblatt said in June.
