Kushner's company linked to Israeli military firm amid Gaza negotiations

Jared Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, has attracted scrutiny due to its substantial stakes in Israeli companies, some of which possess connections to the Israeli military industry, while Kushner concurrently engages in Gaza peace negotiations. Affinity Partners, predominantly financed by sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, acquired a stake in Israel's Shlomo Group, whose parent company co-owns Israel Shipyards, a builder of missile boats for the Israeli navy. Kushner has stated that his investment did not target the naval sector of Shlomo Group.

Further raising questions, Affinity Partners also became the largest shareholder in Phoenix Financial Ltd., a major Israeli financial services group. Phoenix Financial has been noted for holding shares in companies linked to Israeli settlements. Critics and ethics experts highlight a potential conflict of interest, as Kushner's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, including brokering Gaza agreements, overlap with his private investment activities that are heavily funded by Gulf nations with strategic interests in the region.

These financial ties underscore concerns about the intertwining of private business interests with sensitive geopolitical diplomacy. Kushner has maintained that he acts solely in the best interests of the United States in his unofficial diplomatic capacity. However, the arrangement has prompted ongoing ethical discussions regarding the influence of foreign capital on U.S. foreign policy and the transparency of private citizens engaging in high-level international negotiations.