US officials visiting Mideast to seek backing for peace plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and other administration officials are headed to the Middle East later this month to brief diplomats in at least five countries on the economic section of a U.S. proposal for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

A White House official said Kushner, who is President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, will be joined by U.S. Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt, U.S. envoy on Iran Brian Hook and other administration officials who have worked on the economic part of the plan.

Stops are confirmed in Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Other stops could be added to the trip.

The official was not authorized to publicly disclose details of the trip and spoke only on condition of anonymity.