Blog 276: Witkoff, Kirshner Interview

Jeny had a small fall. She slightly sprained her knee. Rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) have helped and she is getting back on her feet. But in the meantime, yours truly has been busy caring for her. It is my joy to care for her, but the commitment to her means less time for other matters. Thus, today’s blog is brief.

I was very positively impressed with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in a recent the 60 Minutes interview. The two men were unpaid special envoys for negotiating a Hamas-Israel cease fire. In the interview I thought both men were thoughtful, insightful, realistic and humble. I thought the interview and their work on the agreement were commendable.

Dialog requires the ability to see strengths in people with whom we disagree. I recognize and acknowledge a negative bias about Kirshner. However, I believe he did a good interview and was an important positive part of the negotiation.

The insight that caught my attention was Kushner pointing out the relationship forged by Witkoff and the lead negotiator for Hamas, Khalil al-Hayya. When they first met, Kirshner and Witkoff expressed condolences to Khalil for the loss of his son. The son was killed by an Israeli bomb.

Then Witkoff went further. He let Khalil know he too had lost a son and the fraternity they shared was a very difficult one. Kirchner noted that at that point the negotiations became more fruitful. They saw each other as human.

It is a lesson we could use in America. If we stop seeing each other as enemies and worked together as people, we could get the government functioning again.

I probably was touched the interaction because I too have lost a child. I have empathy for the situation. I would point out the positive power of empathy. In some circles people are making derogatory comments about empathy. For example, Charlie Kirk made the statement “I can’t stand the word ‘empathy,’ actually. I think ‘empathy’ is a made-up, new-age term that does a lot of damage.”

I disagree.

Witkoff, Kushner reveal turning points in Israel-Hamas negotiations: An apology call and a moment of human connection – CBS News

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