MANAMA: White House adviser Jared Kushner on Tuesday urged the Palestinians to take the 鈥淥pportunity of the Century鈥� to have $50 billion pumped into the stagnant economy of the West Bank and Gaza.

鈥淢y direct message to the Palestinian people is that despite what those who have let you down in the past say, President Trump and America have not given up on you,鈥� said Kushner, the US president鈥檚 son-in-law, opening the 鈥淧eace to Prosperity鈥� conference in Bahrain.

Kusher repeated an earlier caveat that his economic plan would not go into operation until there was a political solution to the Palestinian issue. 鈥淭o be clear, economic growth and prosperity for the Palestinian people are not possible without an enduring and fair political solution to the conflict 鈥� one that guarantees Israel鈥檚 security and respects the dignity of the Palestinian people,鈥� he said.

However, he surprised his audience of global business leaders, economists and politicians by saying the Palestinians must accept the economic plan before a political solution could be reached.

鈥淎greeing on an economic pathway forward is a necessary condition to resolving the previously unsolvable political issues,鈥� Kushner said.

He dismissed mockery of the US peace plan as the 鈥淒eal of the Century,鈥� and offered an alternative. 鈥淭his effort is better referred to as the Opportunity of the Century, if the leadership has the courage to pursue it,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e see tremendous potential. What we have developed is the most comprehensive economic plan ever created specifically for the Palestinians, and the broader Middle East. We can turn this region from a victim of past conflicts into a model for commerce and advancement throughout the world.鈥�

Prominent figures taking part in the two-day Bahrain conference include International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, World Bank president David Malpass and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Among the business leaders in Manama for the conference was Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of the UAE property and leisure group Emaar. He was optimistic. 鈥淚f there is a one percent chance we do something good here, we should get together and try,鈥� he said.

黑料社区 indicated support on Tuesday for 鈥渋nternational efforts aimed at improving prosperity, investment and economic growth in the region.鈥�

But Riyadh restated that any peace deal should be based on the Saudi-led Arab peace initiative that has been the Arab consensus since 2002. It calls for a Palestinian state in territory not occupied by Israel before 1967, with a capital in East Jerusalem and refugees鈥� right of return.

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AS IT HAPPENED: SEE HOW THE FIRST DAY UNFOLDED BELOW - All times local (GMT +2)

21:54 Bahrain鈥檚 King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with the US delegation participating in the workshop at Al-Qudaibiya Palace.
The delegation included senior White House adviser Jared Kushner and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the Bahrain state news agency BNA said.
King Hamad also received a letter from US President Donald Trump, BNA said.

21:10: Bahrain鈥檚 King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with the US delegation participating in the workshop.
The delegation included senior White House adviser Jared Kushner and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the Bahrain state news agency BNA said.
King Hamad also received a letter from US President Donald Trump, BNA said.

21:00: The full details of the economic plan can be downloaded .

Kushner briefly went through the main points and some of the figures, including the four overarching aims. They are doubling GDP, creating 1 million jobs, reducing unemployment and reducing poverty.

20:05: More from Kushner's speech earlier. When he moved on to outline the economic plan that was published Saturday, he addressed the absence of Palestinian business leaders at the Bahrain conference.

"A lot of the leading Palestinian business people who we speak to wanted to be here tonight. They were told by the (Palestinian) authority not to come and because they rely on them for their livelihood it鈥檚 not a free market where they can make those distinctions."

20:00: Mohamed Alabbar, founder and chairman of the UAE鈥檚 Emaar Properties says the Palestinian cause is one close to the heart of all Arabs.

19:45: Some more details from Jared Kushner's speech. He painted a picture of what could be in Gaza and the West Bank:

"Imagine a new reality in the Middle East. Imagine a bustling commercial and tourist center in Gaza and the West Bank where international businesses come together and thrive. Imagine the West Bank as a blossoming economy, full of entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists and business leaders. Imagine people and goods flowing quickly and securely throughout the region as economics become more integrated and people more prosperous.

"This isn鈥檛 a stretch, this is actually the historical legacy of the Middle East, specifically of Gaza and the West Bank."

19:45: The first panel - The Time is Now: Building a Coalition for Middle East Prosperity - gets underway, hosted by Nik Gowing.

19:40: Kushner says Palestinian self-sufficiency is the key to helping them reach prosperity, and will be vital in helping create a better business environment climate in the Middle East as a whole...

19:30: Kushner is now summarizing what the "Opportunity of the Century" economic plan actually entails for the conference...

19:25: Kushner tells the conference that the US wants to see peace, security and prosperity for Palestinians, Israelis and all people around the world and that the US has not "given up" on the Palestinian people.

19:15: We are under way, and Jared Kushner is speaking...

18:45: We are still waiting for Jared Kushner's address, and we are being treated to some dramatic music and this holding screen on the live stream...stay tuned, we will have some action shortly...

18:20: Dignitaries for the conference are still arriving and registering and enjoying a welcome reception, so let鈥檚 take a look at what we can expect on tonight and tomorrow鈥檚 agenda鈥�

- Donald Trump senior advisor Jared Kushner will deliver the opening remarks, with a panel discussion on what the US administration鈥檚 plans for 鈥淢iddle East prosperity鈥� will entail. The panel will be moderated by Nik Gowing, a UK-based professor, author & broadcaster and will include Mohamed Alabbar, founder and chairman of the UAE鈥檚 Emaar Properties as well as Stephen Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone.

- Everyone will then enjoy an opening night dinner.

- Tomorrow, the highlights will be a panel entitled 鈥淯nleashing Economic Potential鈥� 鈥� looking at how trade and job creation can help Gaza, the West Bank and the surrounding region 鈥� which will include Mohammed Al-Sheikh, Minister of State, member of Council of Ministers and member of Council of Economic and Development Affairs in 黑料社区.

- Kushner will hold a conversation with former UK prime minister Tony Blair, while just before lunch Arab News鈥� editor-in-chief Faisal Abbas moderates a panel on how to empower the Palestinian people to reach their full potential.