Like in a good Hollywood thriller, hints about the end appeared in the first scene.
"My first experiences was the trip with President Trump to Saudi Arabia, and from there to Israel at the start of the administration's term. As a Jew visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time, it was very exciting for me," US President Donald Trump's advisor on international affairs Avi Berkowitz recalls.
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"From Saudi Arabia, we flew straight to Israel – it was the first time that a flight like that had taken place publicly, even if it was a government flight. I remember taking pictures of the flight route from the plane. Already then, it showed us that things didn't have to stay the way they had been. The privilege I had later on of working on the Abraham Accords proved that," Berkowitz says.
Four years later, not only are Israeli flights crossing Saudi air space daily, but this week Berkowitz and his boss Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and advisor, inaugurated a new flight route between Israel and another Arab country – Morocco. On Monday, they met in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz, and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. The next day, they flew to Rabat with a high-ranking Israeli delegation led by National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat. Ben-Shabbat, the son of Moroccan immigrants, greeting King Mohammad VI with a blessing reserved for kings: "Blessed is the One Who has given of His glory to human beings."
Later, Ben-Shabbat gave a moving speech in the local language. "Like me, many second and third-generation Moroccans in Israel remain loyal to their ancestors' heritage. Many traditions born here in Morocco are upheld in many homes in Israel. Moroccan Jewry has left its mark on Israeli society. Relations between us and the royal family are the base on which peace will be built," he said.
Ben-Shabbat repeated the speech in Hebrew. Kushner and Berkowitz, even if they didn't understand every word, didn't need any translation. It was another high point of the Middle East peace process.
Although no one said so explicitly, and even though – as Berkowitz put it – the peace process team is working "until the last second," there is a sense that something is coming to a close.
Berkowitz, only 32, and Kushner – architect of the regional peace and not yet 40 – have done in the last four years what hasn't happened in the last 26. Because they are Trump's people, the international peace camp can't allow a good word to be said about them, but Israel knew to give the team the respect it deserved.
Kushner participated in a tree-planting ceremony in the JNF's Grove of Nations in Jerusalem, and the prime minister was there. That same evening, Netanyahu presented him with a gift, a sort of framed citation of merit from the State of Israel for his part in the peace process. At the US Embassy in Jerusalem, Ambassador David Friedman hung a sign naming the embassy's huge courtyard after Kushner.
"We were a real estate developer and lawyer form New York," Friedman said at the modest ceremony.
"We found ourselves playing a key role in shaping US foreign policy in the Middle East. We might not have had diplomatic experience, but we had values and a shared goal," the ambassador said.
Kushner, Friedman, Berkowitz, and Friedman's advisor Aryeh Lightstone appeared calm and at ease, as if a burden had been removed. The atmosphere remained the same the next day on board El Al Flight 555 to Morocco.
The first flight to the Emirates
In the ceremonies marking the historic flight at Ben-Gurion International Airport and in Rabat, as well as in an interview to Israel Hayom, it appeared as if Kushner and Berkowitz wanted to leave a legacy and explain what they had done right, unlike so many peace brokers that came before them. Due to a busy schedule, Israel Hayom talked to them separately.
Q: Out of all the experiences, actions and decisions – including domestic issues -- you have led and dealt with since President Trump entered politics six years ago, which are the three most significant moments you will carry with you for the rest of your life?
Kushner: "I've really enjoyed working on behalf of the American people these past four years. It's hard to specify three, but as a grouping the three projects I most enjoyed working on are the Abraham Accords, which saw four peace deals between Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco; the USMCA trade deal which replaced NAFTA; and the First Step Act, which is the criminal justice reform legislation that has improved the lives of tens of thousands of American families."
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Berkowitz discusses the first flight to Israel from Saudi Arabia in 2017, the first flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates in which he took part this past summer, and the flight that took them to Rabat this week.
Berkowitz: "I'm talking to you from Morocco, so I can't not think about everything that happened here. His Royal Highness King Mohammad VI is talking to Israel's national security council head, Meir Ben-Shabbat.
"From the administration's first day in office, leaders of Arab states were saying they wanted to make peace, but the difficulty was bringing what we heard behind the scenes out into the open. So hearing and seeing with my own eyes now what I knew for years was an amazing moment that will influence millions of Israelis. So even though my time in the administration is coming to an end, I feel good that the [different] peoples are coming closer and getting to know each other, that new kosher restaurants will open in Morocco, and it will continue long after I'm not in the administration anymore."
Q: And a moment not necessarily related to Israel or the Middle East?
Berkowitz: "I don't want to talk about a specific event, but rather about something that people usually don't get to see but which I was lucky enough to experience. My office at the White House is close to the door of the president's work room, so for four important years I had the privilege of seeing the president work. Being so close to the president of the US is a huge thing that taught me a lot and which I will always appreciate."
The battle to move the embassy
The Israeli Right is fingering Jared Kushner, who grew up in the New York Democratic elite, as a leftist who torpedoed plans to declare Israeli sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria. But that is a description that wrongs the man who anchored the Trump golden era of American-Israeli relations. A close inspection reveals that Kushner is neither Right nor Left, and that for him, Israel – and cold reason – comes before everything.
Speaking at the US Embassy, Kushner called the last four years "an unexpected chapter" in his life. With a sly smile, he turned to Friedman and told him, "People said that because you were 'too pro-Israeli,' your appointment was problematic. That wasn't a logical claim, either." And Kushner tries to throw off anything that is illogical.
Kushner said that the move to relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem was "a big battle" the administration fought, noting that it sparked the opposition of many people, without a good reason other than fear of the unknown. However, he said, the move showed that in diplomacy – when the "right thing" is done strongly, when what is "accepted but illogical" is challenged, breakthroughs can be made "that other people thought were impossible."
Berkowitz: "The decision about Jerusalem was unusually important, and not only because of its essence. Before the decision was made, it was said that we – as people lacking experience – needed to know that it would send the region down a path of violence from which it wouldn't be able to return. But if we look at all the possibilities, and do it carefully with taking into account all the risks, important things can be done.
"It was an important lesson, because it showed the entire world that more things that are seen as impossible can be done, things that will influence the entire region. Like Jared told the prime minister this week. Recognizing Jerusalem [as Israel's capital] did lead to an explosion, but it was an explosion of peace," he adds.
Q: So, in your opinion, the president's recognition of Jerusalem led to peace, rather than war, like people warned you it would?
Berkowitz: "That's what I believe."
Kushner: "Recognizing Jerusalem and moving the embassy were a symbol of new American thinking. Together with Prime Minister Netanyahu, we addressed problems that were seen as unsolvable with free eyes. We recognized previous approaches, but we used a lot of common sense in facing the challenges. With creative thinking, we created opportunities, and every day you hear good news from the region – something that hasn't happened for many years."
Q: As people who came from outside politics and succeeded where others failed, what lesson have you learned in these past few years that you recommend that others adopt?
Kushner: "Experts were busy with theoretical questions rather than focusing on the question of what the people want, and whether there are common goals around which they could come together. To achieve peace, you need to create a situation in which all the people can enjoy security, economic growth, and freedom of religion. These things are obvious, but when the administration started out, even they were grounds for dispute.
"After more than four years, I feel that's the key to our success. We were the most pro-Israel administration that I can think of, but we were also the most pro-Arab/Muslim. We built trust by standing with our allies and partners. President Trump earned the trust of the people in the region and that gave us the credibility to advance our initiatives."
Berkowitz: "You learn a lot, but one of the most important lessons I'm taking with me is patience. When you start a job, there's a desire to do a lot in the time you have. But building relationships takes time, and demands patience. As time went by, I learned to feel comfortable with being uncomfortable, that is, that things I wanted to happen still hadn't happened, but would. And that's what it was. We were patient for three years, and in the fourth year we saw it bear fruit. I know that from the outside, it looks to people as if the peace deals appeared suddenly. The truth is that they took years of hard work and cooperation so that things would happen at the right time. And when I'm talking to you from Morocco, I can just feel it."
'Don't rush into a bad deal'
Q: The 'plan of the century' that the administration rolled out in January didn't materialize, and in effect you stopped promoting it. On the other hand, you brought us historic peace accords. What is the connection between the peace deals and the plan of the century? Would the deals exist without the Trump peace plan?
Kushner: "The plan is the most detailed and realistic opportunity to resolve the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict in decades. In my opinion, it's the only viable plan that actually could improve the lives of the Palestinian people. I think in time people will review the plan and appreciate its merits. But it also was extremely helpful to advance the Abraham Accords. By putting out a fair plan that Israel was willing to negotiate on, a lot of leaders in the Arab world saw that it's not Israel that is unwilling to compromise for peace. That helped break the logjam and start substantive conversations on normalization with numerous Arab countries."
Berkowitz: Presenting the plan created momentum. Israel said it was willing to discuss it, and that's all we asked at that stage, whereas the Palestinians rejected it entirely and didn't even read what it said. Arab states saw that Israel was willing to promote peace but they were also upset because they were afraid that the sovereignty plan would go ahead. They were afraid that if there was American recognition of Israeli sovereignty in those areas, it would be a lot more complicated for them to begin normalization with Israel. So the Emirati ambassador, Yousef al-Otaiba, proposed postponing Israeli sovereignty in exchange for his country making peace with Israel. That proposal didn't convince everyone."
Q: As for the plan of the century, what exactly happened with the issue of sovereignty? First the administration – including the president – said it would be implemented immediately. Then you delayed the move. What happened that day?
Kushner: "Ultimately, it was something we were willing to do and are not against. We are very proud of the plan laid out by President Trump. That being said, the opportunity to normalize Israel with numerous Arab countries was too large to overlook. So we suspended that plan in favor of four peace deals, and have been in contact with additional Arab and Muslim countries."
Q: Conspiracy theorists might suggest that the entire sovereignty plan was designed to be canceled in order to lead to a breakthrough with the Emirates.
Berkowitz: "That's wrong. Our intentions [regarding Israeli sovereignty] were pure and still are. The president did enough to prove where his heart is when it comes to Israel."
Q: The Biden administration is currently formulating its policy towards Iran. What is the main advice you would give them on this subject?
Kushner: "The Middle East is in a much safer place than the one we inherited. That's because President Trump stood with our allies in the region. It's important to be patient when negotiating and not rush in towards a bad deal. America has a lot of priorities in the world, Iran will call if and when they are ready to do a real deal."
Q: A word about American politics – is there any chance of changing the election results, as they stand now?
Berkowitz: "The matter is under legal review, I prefer not to comment." Kushner also declined to answer questions about the election results.
Q: To finish: Avi, you're still single, and I've heard that a lot of girls in Israel and the Jewish community in the US are waiting for you to free up on Jan. 21.
"If I finish my job on Jan. 21, the first thing I'll do will be to get some normalcy back in my life after four years. As far as shidduchim – are you a matchmaker?"
Q: Not a very good one.
"Well, I at least introduced my brother to his wife. I have a third of a place in heaven."
