Luxury Hotels: No evidence that Albania is selling land to Israel

Ivanka Trump, daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner described discovering the island of Sazan in Albania during a boat trip with friends, according to reports. They were reportedly so impressed by the location that they considered it ideal for building luxury hotels. The idea has been around for years, and recent plans have become more specific. Trump and Kushner aim to construct luxury resorts on Sazan Island and along the coastal area of Zvërnec, which lies within a nature reserve in Albania. The areas of Sazan and Zvërnec are located in and near the Adriatic Sea in Albania. Demonstrations have taken place for weeks with slogans such as “Albania is not for sale.” Prime Minister Edi Rama supports the project, stating there is no chance the investment will be stopped while he remains in office. According to Rama, the luxury resorts are intended to attract investors to the country. Amid these developments, protests and social media discussions have spread claims that Albania is selling part of its territory to the Israeli government. Some shared images of alleged border signs, although these are not authentic. Investigations into who owns the affected areas in Albania, who can invest, and who can build show no evidence that land is being sold to Israel. Planned luxury resorts would be built in protected natural areas in Albania. Sazan was a military restricted zone for decades. During the Cold War and under communist rule in Albania, Soviet soldiers were stationed there. Since 2015, the island has been open to tourists. While Sazan itself is not officially designated as a protected area, it lies within a marine protected area. In contrast, Zvërnec is directly within the Vjosa-Natra nature reserve, including the adjacent Narta lagoon, which serves as a winter habitat for flamingos. The bird quickly became a symbol of protest in Albania. The possibility of constructing luxury hotels in these protected areas became feasible due to a legal change in February 2024. According to a report by The Guardian in 2025, Sazan still contains kilometers of tunnels and unexploded ordnance that need to be cleared, as well as thousands of bunkers. Kushner may want to incorporate some of these into his planned “eco-resort” complex. Designs for accommodations, including those on the coastal section of Zvërnec, were published by Kushner on Instagram in 2024. The rumor about the supposed sale of land to Israel has gained traction locally, as noted by journalists from the Albanian fact-checking publication Faktoje and investigative outlet Shteg. Vladimir Karaj, working with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network on real estate projects, stated that these rumors likely stem from Kushner's background and former role in the Middle East. Kushner was responsible for developing a peace plan between Israelis and Palestinians during Donald Trump’s first term. He is currently a member of Trump’s so-called “peace council,” where Albania is a founding member. Additionally, American media reported that Kushner’s company, Affinity Partners, has invested in Israeli companies, sometimes through partnerships. This connection might fuel speculation about potential land deals involving Israel. However, no evidence has emerged to support the claim that Albania is selling land to Israel as part of these real estate projects.