Where Is the Palestinian Voice in Kushner’s Plan for a “New Gaza”?

First of all, has anyone wondered what Jared Kushner’s qualifications are to be a peace negotiator? Here’s what I think his qualifications are:

• He says he has read 25 books about the Middle East.
• He is Trump’s son-in-law and a close family adviser.
• He has a close relationship with Israeli Crime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• His investment firm could potentially benefit from expanded Israeli settlements and a "New Gaza Plan."
• His “New Gaza Plan” envisions a radically transformed Gaza, including development of its coastline and large-scale infrastructure.
• Kushner has described Gaza’s coastline as having the potential to become something like a “French Riviera.”
• The proposed plan includes data centers and an industrial complex.
 • Palestinians living in Gaza were not meaningfully consulted about the plan.

* Jared Kushner will be aided in implementing his so-called Peace plan by "war criminal" of the Iraq war Tony Plair.

The plan raises serious concerns that “rebuilding” Gaza could become a sugar-coated form of ethnic cleansing—transforming the territory while displacing or excluding the people who live there.

Whatever one thinks of Kushner personally, the central question remains:

Where is the Palestinian voice in Kushner’s plan for a “New Gaza”?

Caption for bottom photo:  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks to US President Donald Trump as White House senior adviser Jared Kushner  is seen in between them in Jerusalem, May 22, 2017 [Handout/Kobi Gideon/Israeli Government Press Office via Reuters]

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes about U.S. foreign policy, Middle Eastern affairs and justice.