Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood slams planned Kushner visit

By Laith al-Juneidi

AMMAN (AA) – Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood group has criticized an upcoming visit to the Hashemite Kingdom by Jared Kushner, a top advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump (and Trump’s son-in-law).

In a statement, the Brotherhood said Kushner’s visit -- slated for Wednesday -- was intended to promote the “Deal of the Century”, a backchannel Palestine-Israel peace plan the terms of which have yet to be made public.

Based on leaks in the media, however, the plan will call on the Palestinians to make major concessions to Israel regarding Jerusalem’s status and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in historical Palestine.

In its statement, the Brotherhood also slammed an upcoming U.S.-sponsored conference in Manama, where Trump administration officials are expected to unveil economic aspects of the peace plan.

The group called on the Jordanian government to boycott the event, which, it asserted, was “aimed at destroying the Palestinian cause”.

Slated for June 25 and 26, the conference in Manama will reportedly be chaired by Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s Middle East envoy.

While the Palestinian leadership has refused to take part in the conference, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have both officially announced their intention to send representatives to the event.