On Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Son-in-law Jared Kushner could be 'very helpful' in brokering Mid-East peace: Trump

Mr Kushner, the son-in-law of Mr Trump, may be made a special envoy to broker peace in the Middle East.
Mr Kushner, the son-in-law of Mr Trump, may be made a special envoy to broker peace in the Middle East.

NEW YORK • US President-elect Donald Trump rejected the idea that he was bound by federal anti-nepotism laws against appointing his son-in-law, Mr Jared Kushner, to a White House job.

But he said he would want to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, and might instead seek to make Mr Kushner a special envoy charged with brokering peace in the Middle East.

Mr Trump said Mr Kushner, who is an observant Jew, "could be very helpful" in reconciling the longstanding dispute between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

"I would love to be able to be the one that made peace with Israel and the Palestinians," he said, adding that Mr Kushner "would be very good at it" and that "he knows the region".

"A lot of people tell me... that it is impossible - you can't do it," Mr Trump said. "I disagree. I think you can make peace. I have reason to believe I can do it."

NYTIMES

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 24, 2016, with the headline Son-in-law Jared Kushner could be 'very helpful' in brokering Mid-East peace: Trump. Subscribe