The Strategic Move in Sharm El-Sheikh
Donald Trump, known for his book The Art of the Deal, has always emphasized the importance of timing when it comes to closing deals. This principle seems to be guiding the recent actions of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is currently in Sharm El-Sheikh, a Red Sea resort city in Egypt. His presence there suggests that a pivotal moment may be approaching in the ongoing discussions aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
Kushner is not alone in his mission. He is accompanied by Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy who has been actively engaging with both Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. However, despite Witkoff’s efforts, Kushner remains the central figure in these negotiations, often regarded as the wunderkind of Trump’s inner circle.
White House officials have indicated that their primary goal is to secure an agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas and to end Israel’s military operations in Gaza. This objective may require them to stay in Sharm El-Sheikh for an extended period, given the lack of detailed information in Trump’s 20-point peace plan. Despite this, the President has expressed optimism, stating that a ceasefire deal is “very close” and even suggesting he might travel to Egypt himself toward the end of the week.
To address concerns from Netanyahu, a senior White House official recently praised his leadership, acknowledging the military pressure as crucial in making Hamas more pragmatic. The official also urged Netanyahu to recognize that the time for a deal has come.
Kushner’s involvement in geopolitical negotiations first became evident in 2020 when he facilitated the signing of the Abraham Accords, which led to several Middle Eastern countries normalizing relations with Israel. Trump has consistently highlighted these accords as a significant achievement of his first term, and he continues to hope for similar agreements with Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon.
During Trump’s second term, Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, have taken a step back from the public eye. Instead, they have focused on personal ventures, aiming to expand their property empire across the Middle East and beyond.
This shift has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest between Kushner’s statecraft activities and his role as the head of Affinity Partners, the investment management company he founded in 2021. Affinity Partners has received substantial funding from the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund. Notably, the Saudis allocated $2 billion to the firm shortly after its establishment, a move reportedly approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite concerns about Kushner’s limited business experience.
Since then, the firm has secured additional investments, including another $1 billion for Middle Eastern and global projects. Recently, Kushner finalized a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, a major video game producer, backed by more Saudi funds. This deal, described by the Wall Street Journal as “the largest private buyout in history,” marks a significant milestone for Saudi investment in the United States.
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Trump’s earlier controversial plan to clear the Gaza Strip of its civilian population to build “the Riviera of the Middle East” was initially proposed by Kushner before Trump returned to power. When the President publicly endorsed the plan in February, it sparked controversy by implying the relocation of two million people to unspecified neighboring countries.
Kushner is now collaborating with Tony Blair, and the original plan has been revised to make it more acceptable. The updated proposal envisions Gaza being administered for an indefinite period by a “Board of Peace” led by Trump himself, with Blair potentially overseeing daily governance. While the original idea of transforming Gaza into a luxury destination has been omitted, Kushner remains committed to his vision of redeveloping the territory.
Kushner’s determination to realize this vision has brought him to Sharm El-Sheikh, where the next few days could significantly impact the future of many Palestinians, as well as the prospects of substantial financial gains for Kushner, his Saudi allies, and the Trumps.
