Will Jared Kushner’s Israel Investments Impact Peace Process — And How?

Jared Kushner Image by Getty Images

By Naomi Zeveloff March 26, 2017

Jared Kushner’s family has financial investments in Israel that could prevent him from being an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian impasse, ethics experts say.

According to the Associated Press, Kushner’s family real estate company, Kushner Companies, has a shared investment in a New Jersey apartment building with a major Israeli financial group, Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd.

In addition to the New Jersey apartment building, Harel partnered with Kushner Companies on a deal to provide a $50 million loan for a real estate project in Brooklyn, a 73-story residential building that would be the borough’s tallest.

The AP also reported that Kushner Companies confirmed it has a “longstanding relationship” with Israel’s Bank Hapoalim and Bank Leumi, but would not provide further details.

Jared Kushner has stepped down as chief executive of Kushner Companies, but he has not entirely divested his assets.

Ethics experts say these investments, in addition to the Kushner family’s support of West Bank settlements and Kushner’s personal relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could impact his ability to negotiate an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

“Financial investments in Israel would seem to only further complicate conflicts of interest issues,” Larry Noble, senior director of regulatory programs and general counsel at Campaign Legal Center, told the AP.

Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected]

Naomi Zeveloff is the former Middle East correspondent of the Forward, primarily covering Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

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