Senior US delegation in Rabat ahead of Manama workshop

By Khaled Majdoub

RABAT (AA) – U.S. President Donald Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Morocco’s capital Tuesday as part of a Middle East tour, local media reported.

Kushner was accompanied by Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, and State Department Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, it said.

The delegation is expected to meet with Moroccan monarch Mohammed VI to discuss the kingdom’s participation in an economic workshop scheduled to be held next month in Bahrain designed to raise money for Palestinian investment and infrastructure, which the White House described as the first phase of the U.S.-sponsored “Deal of the Century” plan.

No official statement on the visit has been issued from Rabat.

Earlier Tuesday, the Associated Press quoted an unnamed White House official as saying the delegation is on a tour of the region this week which includes visits to Morocco, Jordan and Israel.

The U.S.-backed Al Hurra TV channel quoted Washington’s embassy in Amman as saying that the tour began Monday and ends Friday.

Early last week, the U.S. announced plans to hold a conference in Bahrain’s capital, where Trump administration officials are expected to unveil aspects of the “Deal of the Century”, a controversial proposal for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Slated for June 25 and 26, the conference in Manama will reportedly be chaired by Kushner and Greenblatt.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have both announced their intention to send representatives to the event.

Last Thursday, Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, announced that Palestine would not take part in the U.S.-led conference.

Based on leaks in the media, the Deal of the Century will call on the Palestinians to make major concessions to Israel regarding Jerusalem’s status and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in historical Palestine.