Saudi Arabia Seeks Public Normalization After U.S. Elections

Reuters has reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seeking public normalization with Israel after the U.S. elections, despite Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. The agency cited a source familiar with the discussions, noting that Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has repeatedly discussed U.S.-Saudi diplomatic negotiations involving Israel with Mohammed bin Salman since leaving the White House.

The source did not specify the timing of these talks, whether they occurred before or after the conflict in Gaza began. However, the discussions included talks about the process of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a significant diplomatic goal for both the Biden and Trump administrations, the source said.

Kushner, 43, has close ties with Saudi Arabia, which congressional investigators have reported invested $2 billion into his private equity fund, Affinity Partners, established after his departure from the White House.

The news of Kushner and the de facto Saudi leader discussing a peace agreement with the U.S. underscores the strategic importance both Republican and Democratic administrations place on a region that remains increasingly unstable, especially as the U.S. approaches a closely contested presidential election.

The talks also highlight how Trump might handle the Middle East crisis if he returns to power—raising questions about whether Kushner’s financial ties to Riyadh could influence U.S. policy under his father-in-law.

Saudi investments in Kushner’s fund have been criticized by ethics experts, congressional Democrats, and even some Republicans, who are concerned that Saudi Arabia’s stake might appear as payback since Kushner worked on Saudi-related issues before leaving Trump’s White House.

In a letter dated September 24 to Affinity Partners, Senator Ron Wyden, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote that Saudi investments in Kushner’s fund raise “clear concerns about conflicts of interest.”

Affinity Partners and Kushner have denied that Saudi investments represent a conflict of interest. Affinity Partners stated that Wyden and his Senate staff do not understand private equity.

A spokesperson for Kushner said: “The reason so many people turn to Jared for insight and advice is because of his track record of success.”

The source close to Kushner declined to provide more details about his discussions with the crown prince, stating that it would be inappropriate to share information due to their friendship. “It wouldn’t be right for me to share that,” the source said.

To encourage Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel, the Biden administration has offered Riyadh security guarantees, assistance with a civilian nuclear program, and renewed efforts toward a Palestinian state.

However, the Gaza conflict has cast these talks into uncertainty. The war and the resulting humanitarian crisis have strengthened Arab and Muslim support for the Palestinians in their decades-long struggle against Israel over land and statehood, making it difficult for Riyadh to discuss recognizing Israel without addressing Palestinian aspirations.

The U.S. elections are also a factor, as Trump, a Republican, competes in a historically tight race for the White House against Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat.

Saudi relations with Trump were remarkably close. Trump’s first foreign trip as president in 2017 was to Riyadh, accompanied by Kushner. After the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Trump stood by the crown prince despite U.S. intelligence assessments that the prince had authorized the murder.

Two sources familiar with Saudi strategy said that if Trump returns to the White House, the crown prince would welcome striking a deal with Israel under his leadership.

The sources added that even if Harris wins, the agreement will continue to move forward. In either case, the sources believe the deal would be a win-win for Mohammed bin Salman, even if it requires a few more months of patience.

On September 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism about the potential deal. In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, he said: “What a blessing such peace with Saudi Arabia would be.”

A normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia would expand the “Abraham Accords,” which were signed when Trump was in office. These accords led to the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Kushner, a close ally of Israel, led the negotiations as a senior advisor in Trump’s White House.

Three sources close to Kushner said that if Trump wins the upcoming presidential election in November, they expect Kushner to be involved in the Saudi talks, though in an unofficial capacity.

Ethics experts have warned that if Kushner participates in diplomatic talks as a private citizen during a second Trump term, it could pose significant conflicts of interest, placing Kushner in the unusual position of negotiating government-level agreements with one of his key financial investors.

While Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, have largely stayed away from Trump’s campaign events, they were present at the Republican National Convention in July, sitting and applauding in the family row behind Trump.