Meanwhile, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, visited Israel and the occupied West Bank Wednesday in a short, whirlwind visit the White House said was aimed at reviving Middle East peace talks. Kushner was warmly welcomed in Jerusalem by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before traveling to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Kushner’s visit came a day after Israeli bulldozers broke ground on a new Jewish-only settlement in the occupied West Bank. A spokesperson for President Abbas condemned the construction as a violation of international law.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh: “The resumption of these activities is a clear message to the American administration and to the efforts of President Trump. The American envoy is already in the area; tomorrow President Abbas will be receiving him. This is an obstacle to the efforts of President Trump to resume the peace process.”

Jared Kushner’s Israel trip came as Democratic Congressmember Elijah Cummings demanded to know why Kushner still has a top-level security clearance after he failed to report dozens of contacts with foreign leaders—including Russian officials—on his application.