Kushner meets Netanyahu to push Trump Gaza plan

Mideast negotiator and U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was meeting Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel days after the premier rejected the 15-point, U.S.-backed road map to move the ceasefire deal forward in Gaza, The Associated Press reported.

The meeting, which had stretched to about three hours as of Monday afternoon, follows Kushner’s two-hour meeting with the Hamas leader in Egypt, as the U.S. presses for Israel’s approval of the road map. 

Hamas says it has agreed to the road map, which includes disarmament, and the group is urging mediators and the U.S.-created Board of Peace to “compel” Israel to sign on. But Israel, which under the road map must gradually withdraw from Gaza, says Hamas must fully disarm before any Israeli withdrawal.

Israeli troops occupy about 60% of the strip, and Netanyahu has previously threatened to control more.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Board of Peace Director Nickolay Mladenov were also in the meeting with Netanyahu, AP reported citing a source familiar with the plans and a diplomatic source.