Pessimism as Kushner push for ME peace

White House aide Jared Kushner yesterday held talks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the aim of restarting long-stalled peace efforts, but pessimism was high over President Donald Trump's pledge to reach the "ultimate deal".

The visit comes with both Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not in position to make major concessions, some analysts say, and no details have emerged of how Trump's team would overcome that.

Trump also faces a range of crises in addition to controversies at home that may make it difficult for him to focus on the complexities of a major Israeli-Palestinian peace push.

"We have a lot of things to talk about -- how to advance peace, stability and security in our region, prosperity too," Netanyahu said in brief public remarks as he met Kushner in Jerusalem.

"And I think all of them are within our reach."

Kushner, who is also Trump's son-in-law, said: "The president is very committed to achieving a solution here that will be able to bring prosperity and peace to all people in this area."

The US delegation was to meet Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday evening.

The visit is part of a regional tour by Kushner, Trump aide Jason Greenblatt and Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell. They have also held talks with Egyptian, Saudi, Emirati, Qatari and Jordanian officials.

Palestinian leaders note that the White House has not even said clearly whether its focus will be a two-state solution to the conflict, which has been longstanding US policy.

The two-state solution envisions an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, a concept which has been the focus of international diplomacy for years.