Kushner: Israeli Elections Make Country 'A Bit Irrational'

Jared Kushner, senior advisor and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, stated during a visit to Ukraine that Israel's upcoming elections are making the country "a bit irrational" in certain aspects. Kushner, who is also Trump's envoy for Middle East peace, expressed agreement with Israel on the "final status" for Gaza but criticized Israeli decision-making processes.

Kushner's remarks came as he engaged in diplomatic efforts in Ukraine, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky after discussions in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These comments highlight ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Israeli government regarding the implementation of the U.S. peace plan for Gaza.

The White House is reportedly pressuring Israel to advance the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of infrastructure in Gaza. A previous meeting between Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resulted in an agreement that no reconstruction in Gaza would occur without the complete disarmament of Hamas, starting with the surrender of weapons for international supervision.

In parallel with diplomatic efforts, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency conducted a joint operation last week, capturing Moain Al-Arabid, a senior Hamas security official, following 18 simultaneous airstrikes. This operation was planned for months and approved by the Prime Minister and Defense Minister.

Kushner had previously met with Hamas officials in Egypt, urging them to begin disarming. This meeting included international figures such as UN Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.