Jared Kushner presented the White House’s plan for the Middle East at a workshop in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, on Tuesday.

Kushner presented the current American plan for the region as “the opportunity of the century” for Palestinians.

Kushner’s comments came as he explained and promoted the American government’s plans for investment in the Middle East. These plans are the first part of Washington’s broader strategy when it comes to solving the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kushner went on to explain, “Agreeing on an economic pathway forward is a necessary precondition to resolving the previously unsolvable political issues.” The workshop focused almost entirely on economic challenges, and did not address specific political issues. Several reporters noted that Kushner’s speech made no mention of the current or future political status of the Palestinian territories or Israel’s relationship with them.

Kushner called for a $50 billion investment over the course of 10 years into the Palestinian territories and neighboring Arab countries. The plan carries a total of 179 projects in the region, backed up by a “master fund” which is meant to cover development in education, healthcare, water, and agriculture. The plan has received some support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said that his country would support any economic plan that would bring peace to the Palestinians, while his Emirati counterpart said “we should give this initiative a chance.” The event was boycotted by the Palestinian Authority, which rejected the plans as an attempt to “liquidate the Palestinian cause,” insisting that a political solution to the conflict is more important than an economic one. “Money is important. The economy is important. But politics are more important. The political solution is more important,” said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.