Kushner Urges Trump to Support Biden’s Push for Israel-Saudi Normalization Agreement

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a surprising turn of events, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and former senior White House adviser Jared Kushner have emerged as key advocates, urging former President Donald Trump to support President Joe Biden’s efforts to broker a historic normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as was reported on Thursday on The Times of Israel web site. This move is seen as crucial, given the potential need for congressional approval and bipartisan support in a deeply divided Congress for the defense pact Riyadh seeks in exchange for normalizing ties with Israel, the TOI report added.

The proposed defense pact between Saudi Arabia and the United States is a significant development in the realm of Middle East diplomacy. However, the TOI report said that such a substantial agreement will undoubtedly require the backing of at least some Republicans in Congress. Any vocal opposition from the former president could jeopardize President Biden’s chances of securing the bipartisan support essential to the success of this initiative, especially considering the progressive Democrats’ strong objections to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman due to the Gulf kingdom’s human rights record, the TOI report added.

For Graham and Kushner, the potential normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia transcends political boundaries, viewing it as a national interest that should unite Americans, according to the report. They have taken it upon themselves to rally Trump’s support for this crucial initiative. Graham explained his perspective in an interview with Axios, saying, “I told President Trump… this is the natural extension of the Abraham Accords, and if we can do it, let’s do it. It doesn’t matter how it gets done, on whose watch it gets done. It’d be a good thing for the stability of the Middle East and our own national security, and President Trump deserves his fair share of credit,” as was reported in the TOI.

In a strategic move aimed at appealing to Trump’s ego, Graham also highlighted how Biden’s efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, which were initially brokered by Trump to normalize relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors, could be seen as “the highest sign of flattery,” the report added. This argument underscores the importance of continuity in American foreign policy, regardless of party affiliation.

Jared Kushner, a key architect behind the Abraham Accords, has echoed this sentiment by communicating to his father-in-law that a Saudi-Israel agreement would serve as a vindication of Trump’s Middle East policy by the Biden administration, as was noted in the TOI report. According to Axios, Kushner has conveyed this message to Trump, reinforcing the idea that this initiative should be a point of pride for the former president. The report also noted that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has invested $2 billion in Kushner’s private equity fund Affinity.

Graham’s proactive support for Biden’s efforts is further underlined by his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia and Israel next month. The TOI also reported that this will mark his second visit this year aimed at advancing the normalization agreement. His active involvement demonstrates the significance of this endeavor and the urgency of garnering bipartisan support, the report added.