6 d. ago Jared Kushner is back – and so are big questions about his financial ties | Mohamad Bazzi

Kushner’s investment firm is backed by three Arab petrostates critical to the Gaza agreement. And the deals keep comingIn Donald Trump’s first term, his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner was omnipresent. He worked on criminal justice reform, Covid-19 vaccine development and modernizing technology across federal agencies. His portfolio extended to foreign policy, as he brokered a new North American trade agreement and negotiated peace deals in the Middle East. But when Trump returned to the White House in January, Kushner stayed out of the limelight and declined to take a formal role in the administration.A few weeks ago, Kushner re-emerged as a central player behind Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, which so far has achieved a ceasefire, an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. Kushner took a victory lap, as Trump and others in the US administration gave him significant credit for helping negotiate ...

Politics

7 d. ago At least nine killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza after Netanyahu orders ‘powerful’ attacks

Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by handing over the wrong remains of dead hostages

Events

2 w. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Trump’s envoys arrive in Israel amid scramble to shore up fragile truce – Middle East crisis live

US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner expected to meet members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s governmentUS President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner have returned to Israel, a US embassy spokesperson has said.They are overseeing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which they helped broker, and are expected to meet members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago The ‘enormous conflict of interest’ at centre of Jared Kushner’s Gaza ceasefire deal

US president’s son-in-law was instrumental in getting deal – which could bring him huge windfall if plan to redevelop Gaza ever comes to fruitionFor a man with no formal role in the White House, Jared Kushner last week literally took centre-stage as Donald Trump’s emissary to the Middle East.As the administration took a victory lap for hammering out a Gaza ceasefire last week, Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, stood in Tel Aviv’s ‘hostages square’, addressing a feverish crowd that had booed the mention of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and later broke into chants of: “Thank You Trump!” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago While the eyes of the world are on Gaza, Israeli settlers in the West Bank still behave with impunity | Ofer Cassif

As the harvest season begins, attacks on Palestinian farmers and their land are spiralling. The words of peace following the Gaza ceasefire ring hollowLast Monday, when the US president, Donald Trump, addressed the Knesset alongside the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, my compatriot lawmaker Ayman Odeh and I raised a banner calling them to “Recognise Palestine”. We were brutally expelled by force from the parliament’s plenum, revealing the fragile state of the supposed “only democracy in the Middle East”. How can Trump and Netanyahu speak of peace in the Middle East without recognition of the people deprived for decades of their basic liberties and rights under vicious occupation?Nowhere is the deceit more clear than in the occupied West Bank. There, the words of peace are but a weak and distant voice, but the horrifying sounds of settler violence and terror still echo loudly. More than 30 occurrences of settler violence against Palestinians have been documented since the...

Politics

2 w. ago We are told the ‘war’ against Gaza is finally ‘over’. Is it? | Arwa Mahdawi

I am not celebrating the end of the ‘war’ because this was not a war – and it’s not over, eitherThank you, Donald Trump. Thank you, Benjamin Netanyahu. Thank you, Jared Kushner. Let’s all pause, shall we, and have a moment of appreciation for these three wise men who have finally brought peace to the Middle East. Blessed are the peacemakers!And, of course, thank you to the Israeli military which, as a US taxpayer, I have done my part to help fund. To echo Kushner: “Instead of replicating the barbarism of the enemy, [Israel] chose to be exceptional.” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Benjamin Netanyahu appears in court to face corruption charges

The prime minister kept a smiling face as he and his entourage of several ministers from his conservative Likud party were heckled by protesters en route to the tribunal.

Events

3 w. ago Hamas reasserts control in a chaotic Gaza, posing a risk to the fragile ceasefire

Hamas has deployed hundreds of police and clashed with armed groups in Gaza in what the militant group says is an attempt to restore law and order in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn for the U.S.-brokered ceasefire

Events

3 w. ago JD Vance trolls one of Trump’s oldest political foes from home soil as MAGA took a victory lap in the Middle East

While staying behind, Vance appeared on ABC and clashed with a TV show host over a major MAGA scandal

Politics

3 w. ago After being absent for MAGA’s victory lap in the Middle East, JD Vance resorts to trolling one of Trump’s oldest political foes

While staying behind, Vance appeared on ABC and clashed with a TV show host over a major MAGA scandal

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s bizarre AI video of Gaza vision as beach resort resurfaces after historic peace deal

Donald Trump’s bizarre AI video of his vision for Gaza as a beach resort has resurfaced after the president’s historic peace deal.

Politics

3 w. ago Trump vows lasting peace in Middle East and talks rebuilding Gaza as he signs Egypt accord — but offers few details

Signing caps off a day-long victory lap for Trump as Israeli hostages were freed after two years of Hamas captivity

Politics

3 w. ago A victory lap for Trump – but the beginning of the end for Netanyahu

Editorial: There is cause for jubilation as the last Israeli hostages return to their families, but much of the back-slapping is presumptuous – and Israel’s prime minister deserves no credit for what has been achieved

Politics

3 w. ago Ivanka Trump is in Israel for reasons that make no sense whatsoever

The First Daughter has been doing a victory lap for something she had nothing to do with, but perhaps the unapologetic nepotism is the point, writes Holly Baxter

Politics

3 w. ago Trump urges Israel to embrace ‘peace and prosperity’ as he takes victory lap in Knesset speech

President calls on Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu over bribery and fraud charges

Politics

3 w. ago How Trump brought about Israel's 'beautiful day': Since setting foot in the White House, the president set out to end Gaza war

Donald Trump has been described by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the 'greatest friend' his country's has ever had in the White House .

Politics

3 w. ago Trump stuns Israel parliament as he demands Netanyahu pardon: 'Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares'

Netanyahu's political career has been plagued ever since he was indicted for fraud, corruption and bribery charges. If found guilty, the Israeli prime minister could face up to a decade behind bars.

Politics

3 w. ago The war in Gaza is over, says Trump. Now who will be responsible for maintaining the peace? | Roy Schwartz

Israelis believe their interests are better served by Washington than Jerusalem. But will Trump and Netanyahu’s focus change now the hostages are home?Roy Schwartz is a senior editor and op-ed contributor at HaaretzThe streets of Tel Aviv felt empty this Monday morning. Apart from people rushing to work or walking their dogs, the place seemed relatively deserted. Even some of the most popular coffee spots had more vacant seats than occupied ones. This day feels like a holy day – not because it actually is one (it’s Simchat Torah Eve) – but because of the return of the last 20 living hostages from Hamas captivity. There was no need to ask where everyone was. Thousands had gathered in “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv (formerly known as Museum Square – and who knows if that name will ever return). Others were glued to their television screens at home, as if it were the World Cup final. Thinking about it, the war’s final act trumps even that. Apparently, the sound of silence can be full of...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s team including ‘rock star’ Mike Huckabee and Steve Witkoff given rapturous applause by Israeli parliament

Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump he was “committed to this peace” as he hailed Trump’s achievements on Monday

Politics

3 w. ago Trump calls for Israel to ‘embrace its potential’ of ‘peace and prosperity’ as he takes victory lap in speech to Knesset

The president said towards the end of his remarks that Israeli President Isaac Herzog should pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the breach of trust, bribery, and fraud charges he faces

Politics