Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has engaged in discussions regarding U.S.-Saudi diplomatic negotiations related to Israel with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on several occasions since his departure from the Trump administration, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The source did not specify the timing of these discussions or whether they took place prior to or following the onset of the Gaza conflict. However, they did encompass conversations about the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a significant diplomatic goal for both the Biden and Trump administrations, as noted by the source.

At 43, Kushner maintains a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia, which congressional investigators claim has invested $2 billion in his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, established after his tenure in the White House. The revelation that Kushner and the Saudi Crown Prince have deliberated on a peace agreement, which President Joe Biden is also attempting to facilitate, underscores the critical importance both political parties attribute to the increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East, especially in light of a closely contested presidential election. These discussions also raise questions about how Trump might address regional crises if he were to regain office, as well as concerns regarding the potential influence of Kushner’s financial connections with Riyadh on U.S. policy under his father-in-law.

Saudi Arabia’s financial involvement in Kushner’s fund has faced scrutiny from ethics experts, Democratic lawmakers, and some Republicans, who are concerned that the investment may appear to be a form of compensation, given Kushner’s previous work on Saudi-related matters during his tenure in the Trump administration.

In a letter dated September 24, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, expressed that the Saudi investments in Kushner’s fund present “clear conflicts of interest concerns.”

Both Affinity and Kushner have refuted claims that the Saudi investments constitute a payoff or a conflict of interest. Affinity stated that Wyden and his Senate team lack an understanding of private equity dynamics. A spokesperson for Kushner remarked, “Many seek Jared’s insights and opinions due to his proven track record of successes.”

A source close to Kushner chose not to elaborate on discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commonly referred to as “MbS,” citing a desire to maintain the integrity of their friendship. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to share that,” the source commented.

A representative from the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not respond to inquiries regarding Kushner’s conversations with MbS. In a speech delivered on September 18, MbS stated that the kingdom would not acknowledge Israel unless a Palestinian state is established, indicating that a potential agreement may be unlikely in the near future. This marks a change from February, when three sources informed Reuters that Saudi Arabia was open to accepting a political commitment from Israel to establish a Palestinian state, rather than a more formal agreement, in an effort to secure a defense pact with Washington prior to the U.S. presidential election.

To incentivize Saudi Arabia’s recognition of Israel, the Biden administration has proposed security guarantees, support for a civilian nuclear initiative, and a renewed effort towards establishing a Palestinian state. Such an agreement could transform the Middle East by reconciling two long-standing adversaries and solidifying the world’s largest oil exporter’s ties to Washington, especially as China expands its influence in the region.

However, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has created uncertainty around these discussions. The war and resulting humanitarian crisis have bolstered Arab and Muslim solidarity with the Palestinians in their long-standing struggle for land and statehood, complicating Riyadh’s ability to engage in talks about recognizing Israel without addressing Palestinian rights.

The upcoming U.S. election also plays a significant role, as Trump, a Republican, competes against Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, in a closely contested race for the presidency.

The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Trump was particularly strong. Trump’s inaugural foreign visit as president in 2017 took him to Riyadh, accompanied by Jared Kushner. Following the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Trump continued to support the crown prince, despite a U.S. intelligence report indicating his involvement in the murder. The crown prince, known as MbS, denied any participation.

According to two sources familiar with Saudi strategy, should Trump return to the presidency, the crown prince would be open to negotiating a deal with Israel under his administration. The sources also indicated that if Kamala Harris were to win, the agreement would still progress, viewing it as a beneficial outcome for MbS, even if it necessitates a bit more waiting.

On September 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke positively about the potential for an agreement, stating, “What a blessing such a peace with Saudi Arabia would bring,” during his address to the UN General Assembly.

Establishing normalized relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia would represent an extension of the “Abraham Accords” initiated during Trump’s presidency, which facilitated the normalization of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Kushner, who has strong ties to Israel, played a key role in these negotiations as a senior adviser in Trump’s administration.

Three sources close to Kushner mentioned that if Trump wins the upcoming presidential election in November, they anticipate Kushner’s involvement in discussions with Saudi Arabia, albeit in an unofficial capacity. However, a spokesperson for Kushner has denied any intention to pursue such a role.

If Kushner were to engage in diplomatic discussions as a private citizen during a second Trump term, it could create a significant conflict of interest, according to ethics experts, placing Kushner in a unique position of conducting high-level negotiations with one of his primary financial backers.

While Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, have generally avoided Trump’s campaign events, they attended the Republican National Convention in July, where they were seen sitting and applauding in the family box.