Kushner discusses Gaza plan with Netanyahu after rare Hamas meeting

JERUSALEM, Aug 17: Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, a day after holding a rare meeting with Hamas' leader in Cairo in a bid to push forward the US president's Gaza plan.

Netanyahu, whose ruling coalition is trailing in Israeli opinion polls ahead of an October national election, publicly rejected this month aUS-backed agreement that would see Hamas surrender its arms in exchange for Israel withdrawing from Gaza.

Trump had said the agreement would be carried out in phases, with Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza as disarmament proceeded and an 'International Stabilization Force' worked with a new Palestinian police force to secure the territory.

But Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, has said the country's military will only withdraw once Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza have been completely disarmed. Diplomats say Israel is unlikely to make any major concessions over Gaza ahead of the October 27 election.

Kushner was joined in the Jerusalem meeting with Netanyahu by NickolayMladenov, Trump's Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, the two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.�" REUTERS