Jared Kushner Spearheads Saudi Investments in Israel

In another sign of Israel’s deepening business and security ties with Arab states, Saudi Arabia has committed $2 billion in public funds to Jared Kushner’s new private-equity group, Affinity Partners. As Dion Nissenbaum and Rory Jones note, this “marks the first known instance that the Saudi public investment fund’s cash will be directed to Israel, a sign of the kingdom’s increasing willingness to do business with the country, even though they have no diplomatic relations.” Drawing on interviews with Kushner and others close to the deal, Nissenbaum and Jones examine Kushner’s broader strategy, as well as responses by lawmakers in both the Middle East and the U.S.