Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, pulled no punches in a 60 Minutes interview this Sunday, sharing his take on the decades-long diplomatic quagmire in the Middle East and how he and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff managed to cut through years of "stupid word games" to secure a historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Kushner, known for his real estate acumen, explained that the negotiation was straightforward at its core—getting hostages released, achieving a real ceasefire, and delivering humanitarian aid. But the challenge? Navigating the complex, convoluted rhetoric entrenched in Middle East diplomacy for over 50 years.
"We wanted the hostages to come out. We wanted a real ceasefire that both sides would respect. We needed a way to bring humanitarian aid into the people," Kushner said, recalling the critical objectives. "But then we had to write all these complex words to deal with the 50 years of stupid word games that everyone in that region is so used to playing."
Instead of following the traditional diplomatic approach, Kushner and Witkoff leaned into their experience as seasoned dealmakers, using "personal techniques" and building on the trust they had cultivated over years of business dealings in the region. This wasn’t your average negotiation, and Kushner didn’t mince words when describing how his relationship-based strategy worked to cut through the bureaucratic mess.
When pressed by host Lesley Stahl about potential conflicts of interest due to their previous business dealings with Middle Eastern countries, Kushner wasn’t shy about defending their approach. "What people call conflicts of interest, Steve and I call experience and trusted relationships that we have throughout the world," he explained. "If Steve and I didn’t have these deep relationships, the deal we were able to get done... would not have occurred."
And it wasn't just talk—Witkoff shared a heartwarming moment after the deal was made, recalling how Israelis and Qataris hugged each other in celebration. "I wish the world could've seen it," Witkoff said. "People from Qatar hugging people from Israel... it happened with the Turks too, and it happened with the Egyptians."
The ceasefire deal, finalized on October 8, 2023, marked a major turning point in the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas. And while Kushner and Witkoff's methods may have been unconventional, the results speak for themselves: hostages freed, a ceasefire in place, and the possibility of peace built on trust and real relationships.
Looks like sometimes, the best way to make peace isn’t through endless meetings and formalities, but through good old-fashioned, no-nonsense dealmaking.
