Jared Kushner on the need for a new “status quo” in the Middle East:
“We would meet with Netanyahu in Washington and he would take a commercial El Al flight to meet us…and he runs an economic super power in the region.
Abbas…represents a “refugee” group and he would fly in a… pic.twitter.com/372OW674Ki
— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) October 10, 2025
Month: October 2025
Заседание Совета глав государств – участников СНГ • Президент России kremlin.ru/events/president/…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 10, 2025
putin and aliyev
The admission, made during a meeting in Tajikistan in October 2025, followed a 10-month diplomatic row that began after the crash.
The relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has been defined by Russia’s admission of responsibility for shooting down an Azerbaijani passenger jet in late 2024 and Russia’s pledge to compensate the victims.
December 2024 plane crash and aftermath.
The incident: On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The flight, which was traveling from Baku to Grozny, was rerouted due to reports of Ukrainian drone attacks in southern Russia. The plane was subsequently hit by Russian air defense missiles.
Initial reaction: Days after the crash, Putin apologized for the “tragic incident” but did not admit direct responsibility. Aliyev criticized Moscow for attempting to “hush up” the incident, which caused significant strain in relations.
Escalating tensions: The diplomatic fallout saw a series of retaliatory moves:An Azerbaijani visit to Moscow was canceled in May 2025.
Ethnic Azerbaijanis were arrested in Russia during the summer of 2025.
Azerbaijan, in turn, detained several Russian nationals.
Aliyev notably skipped Russia’s annual World War II Victory Day celebrations.October 2025 reconciliation
Putin’s admission and apology: Meeting with Aliyev in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in October 2025, Putin offered his most candid admission to date. He explained that a “technical malfunction” in the Russian air defense system, which was targeting a Ukrainian drone, caused two missiles to explode near the passenger jet.
Promise of compensation: Putin pledged that Russia would “do everything” to provide compensation for the victims and assess the actions of those responsible.
Aliyev’s response: Aliyev thanked Putin for personally monitoring the investigation and expressed hope for restoring cooperation, signaling a potential de-escalation of tensions.
Wider context
Analysts note that Aliyev’s leverage, including Azerbaijan’s 2023 victory in Nagorno-Karabakh and a security alliance with Turkey, may have influenced Putin’s decision to apologize and settle the dispute. However, questions remain regarding Putin’s technical explanation of the crash, and the full normalization of relations will depend on how Russia follows through on its promises.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 10, 2025
putin and aliyev – Google Search google.com/search?q=putin+an…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 10, 2025
россия и азербайджан – Google Search google.com/search?q=%D1%80%D…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 10, 2025
Jared Kushner, Trump, Saudis, and Gaza
The following is an overview of their involvement: Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump, and Saudi Arabia have been involved in the conflict in Gaza from different angles
Jared Kushner
In October 2025, Kushner returned to the forefront of Middle East diplomacy by acting as an envoy for Trump in peace talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. He was dispatched by Trump, alongside current Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, to help finalize a deal that would see all hostages released from Gaza and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The deal was based on a 20-point proposal that Trump put forward a week earlier. Kushner and Witkoff traveled to Egypt and Israel to present the plan to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the Israeli cabinet, respectively.
In February 2024, Kushner made controversial comments about Gaza at a Harvard University event, calling its “waterfront property” potentially “very valuable”. These remarks were widely condemned as insensitive to the humanitarian crisis.
Following his time in the Trump administration, Kushner established the private equity firm Affinity Partners, which has received significant funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). This has led to accusations of potential conflicts of interest, as he has engaged in both business and diplomatic activities in the region.
Donald Trump
In his second term as president, Trump’s administration has played a central role in brokering a ceasefire deal in Gaza. His administration has engaged in negotiations with both Israel and Hamas to end the two-year-long war.
In September 2025, Trump unveiled his 20-point peace proposal for Gaza, which included provisions for a ceasefire, hostage release, and post-war governance. The plan was welcomed by the Palestinian Authority and several Arab nations.
Trump has also used his influence to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into agreeing to the ceasefire. This includes a September 2025 meeting at the White House where Netanyahu apologized to Qatar for an Israeli attack in Doha.
Earlier in 2025, during his first foreign trip of his second term, Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, but not Israel. This was seen by some as a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia
Following Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire deal in Gaza, Saudi Arabia welcomed the agreement and expressed hope that it would lead to a “just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution”.
During Trump’s May 2025 visit, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman advocated for a solution to the Gaza war that would lead to the goals set forth in the Arab Peace Initiative.
Throughout the conflict, Saudi Arabia has maintained a position of supporting a two-state solution while also engaging with the Trump administration on regional issues.
Saudi Arabia’s significant investment in Kushner’s firm has also drawn attention to its potential influence on U.S. foreign policy in the region.
share.google/aimode/VI75hEQ5…— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 10, 2025
Categories
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Jared Kushner, Trump, Saudis, and Gaza – Google Search google.com/search?q=Jared+Ku… x.com/TPV_John/status/1976368672404111738— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 10, 2025
Rare Putin apology exposes Moscow’s worries about maintaining Central Asia grip – YouTube youtube.com/watch?v=LlMQG7bD…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 10, 2025