Al-Monitor has learned that the only reason for this Palestinian optimism, at least for now, was a personal message conveyed by Trump through Kushner to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. According to the message, the president of the United States was committed to making supreme efforts to broker a historic peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and a detailed plan would soon be formulated setting out Trump’s vision of peace in the Middle East.

Kushner praised Abbas and told him the president greatly appreciated his efforts to quell domestic Palestinian unrest, as well as his desire to achieve an agreement with Israel knowing he will have to make tough decisions to get there.