As the impeachment trial against him continued in the Senate, President Donald Trump announced a peace plan between Israel and Palestine aimed at mitigating the decades-long conflict between the two countries.
The plan retains all of Israel's settlements in the West Bank, gives it sole ownership of Jerusalem, and divides Palestinian territory into portions surrounded by Israel, provided Palestine recognizes Israel as a Jewish state and relinquishes control over the Gaza Strip. The plan also doesn't allow for Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.
Though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the plan, the Palestinians have roundly rejected the plan's preferential accommodations for Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said of the plan, "Jerusalem is not for sale. All of our rights are not for sale or bartering."
The President's advisor and son-in-law spearheaded the plan, despite having no qualifications regarding Middle East policy.
When asked what qualified him to craft the controversial plan, Kushner told Sky News Arabia:
"I've been studying this now for three years. I've read 25 books on it, I've spoken to every leader in the region, I've spoken to everyone who's been involved in this."
Despite Kushner's assurance, the plan has only increased unrest in Palestine.
He later said of the plan to Fox and Friends:
"Past proposals have been 2 to 3 pages—this is an over 80-page proposal with a map. Never been done before."
People were skeptical of the qualifications that Kushner put forth.
Republicans have questioned the qualifications of Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, who served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, despite having no background in energy policy. The implication is that Hunter Biden got the appointment because he was the Vice President's son.
People called attention to the discrepancies in smears of Hunter Biden and the Republican praise of Jared Kushner.
While Trump's so-called plan will likely be cited as an achievement, its chances at achieving any meaningful peace appear to have failed.
