Full Breakdown
Jared Kushner’s Dual Role: U.S. Envoy and Investor in Israeli Defense Firms
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Diplomatic Work Coupled with Investment Stakes
Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and the administration’s self-named “Special Envoy for Peace,” has been a central figure in negotiations for an October 2025 cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and in broader U.S. talks on Ukraine and Iran. At the same time, his private-equity firm Affinity Partners holds the largest share of Phoenix Financial, a Tel Aviv-based group that has invested at least $456 million in nine companies that supply weapons and equipment to the Israeli military.
Background & Context – Development of the Investments
Affinity first bought a 4.95 percent stake in Phoenix for $128.5 million in July 2024. The position was roughly doubled in January 2025, five days before Trump’s inauguration, and a third of the holdings were sold in July 2025 for $340 million—a five-fold return on the original purchase. Despite the sale, Affinity retains a 7.4 percent stake valued at more than $1 billion. Phoenix’s defence-related portfolio includes at least $265 million in Elbit Systems, $68 million in drone-camera maker Next Vision, $55 million in engine producer Bet Shemesh, and $40 million in artillery-fuse maker Reshef Technologies.
Data & Statistics – Financial Returns and Defence Links
- Total Phoenix investment in defence firms: >= $456 million.
- Elbit Systems exposure: >= $265 million.
- Other disclosed holdings: Next Vision (>= $68 million), Bet Shemesh (>= $55 million), Reshef Technologies (>= $40 million).
- Sale of a third of Phoenix stake: $340 million, yielding a five-fold profit.
- Current Phoenix stake (7.4 %): > $1 billion.
- Affinity’s assets (April 2026): $6.1 billion, with ? 99 % owned by non-U.S. investors, including $2 billion from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and $1.5 billion from Qatar and the UAE.
Official Statements & Responses – Claims and Congressional Interest
Kushner himself told Forbes in September 2025 that he maintains “a very active dialogue” with Phoenix and meets regularly with its leadership. Rep.