Benny Gantz reportedly meets with Jared Kushner during US visit, discusses normalization with Saudi Arabia

Israeli National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz met with U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner last week during his visit to the U.S., Israeli outlet Walla reported.

Kushner, a former advisor to Trump, discussed the U.S. president’s plans to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as ongoing political issues in Israel.

Both Gantz and Kushner declined to report on the meeting, according to the Walla report.

Gantz has been optimistic about Trump’s reelection and the impact it will make on the Middle East, hailing him a “true friend of Israel”.

Shortly after Trump was elected, Gantz said, “Trump’s leadership will not only ensure the U.S. continues to be a special friend and ally to the State of Israel but a vital beacon of moral clarity to the Middle East and the world.”

Gantz recognized Trump’s previous success with brokering the Abraham Accords, recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel, and moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem.

On Wednesday, Trump spoke to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of an effort to strengthen U.S. ties to the kingdom, combat terrorism, and bring stability to the region.

Trump and the crown prince also "discussed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s international economic ambitions over the next four years as well as trade and other opportunities to increase the mutual prosperity of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” according to the White House.

The Saudi government intends to invest $600 billion into the U.S. over the next four years, and potentially beyond that.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, Trump said the crown prince is a “fantastic guy" and added that he plans to ask Saudi Arabia to increase their investment to $1 trillion. Trump also said he's going to ask Saudi Arabia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to bring down oil prices. 

"You got to bring it down, which, frankly, I’m surprised they didn’t do before the election," he said. "That didn’t show a lot of love by them not doing it. I was a little surprised by that."

When asked where he plans to go on his first foreign trip, Trump said if Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another $450 billion or $500 billion- or more because of inflation- “I think I’d probably go there.”