Pompeo, Kushner to Mideast as US presses Arab-Israeli peace

Trump administration will send two top officials to Middle East this week in a bid to capitalize on momentum from historic agreement between Israeli and United Arab Emirates to establish diplomatic relations.

Three diplomats say Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner plan to make separate, multiple-nation visits to region in coming days to push Arab-Israeli rapprochement in aftermath of Israel-UAE deal.

Pompeo is expected to depart on Sunday for Israel, Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Sudan, according to diplomats, who spoke on condition of anymity because itinerary has t yet been finalized or publicly anunced. Kushner plans to leave later in week for Israel, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, diplomats said.

Neir trip is expected to result in anuncements of immediate breakthrough, diplomats said, although both are aimed at finalizing at least one, and potentially more, rmalization deals with Israel in near future.

Pompeo also plans to meet in Qatar with members of Talban to discuss intra-Afghan peace talks that are key to withdrawal of remaining U.S. forces in Afghanistan, diplomats said.

White House and State Department had comment on planned trips, which will come as administration steps up efforts to push for Arab-Israeli rmalization even without a resolution to Israel-Palestinian conflict.

y also come as administration has taken controversial step of triggering restoration of all international sanctions on Iran, something that only Israel and Gulf Arab nations have publicly supported.

Israel and United Arab Emirates anunced on Aug. 13 y would establish full diplomatic relations, in a U.S.-brokered deal that required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by Palestinians.

historic agreement delivered a key foreign policy victory to Trump as he seeks reelection and reflected a changing Middle East in which shared concerns about archenemy Iran have largely overtaken traditional Arab support for Palestinians.

U.S. and Israeli officials have suggested that more Arab nations may soon follow UAE's lead, with Bahrain and Oman believed to be closest to sealing such deals.