INDEX / DIRECTORY / KPMG / POLITICAL

KPMG POLITICAL

POLITICAL AUDIT UPDATED 2026-10-13
Political Score 6.96 /10 A KPMG - Complicity Index 816
Political 6.96

Evidence-only forensic audit. Scoring happens downstream - see the main dossier for the composite assessment.

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Research cutoff: 13 October 2026.

Entity scope and attribution

[2026; current] KPMG International describes KPMG as a global organization of professional-services firms operating under a common brand. Each member firm is a separate legal entity, generally locally owned and managed, and responsible for its own obligations; KPMG International Limited is an English private company limited by guarantee that coordinates the network but does not provide professional services to clients.1 [2026; current] Somekh Chaikin describes itself as a registered Israeli partnership and member firm of the KPMG International Limited organization.2 Findings below therefore identify the specific member firm responsible for each act.

[2026; current] KPMG’s regional careers site separately lists firms in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine as independent firms, and lists the Palestine office in Ramallah.3 This establishes a KPMG-branded Palestinian presence but does not make that Palestine firm part of Somekh Chaikin.

Corporate Communications & Public Stance

Statements

[2023-2024] KPMG Israel’s Iron Swords hub said that in wartime and uncertainty it was more committed than ever to stand with its clients and the Israeli economy, and organized emergency business, tax and compensation guidance under the label ALL IN by KPMG.4

[16 October 2023] CTech reported that KPMG Israel withdrew its participation sponsorship from Web Summit in Lisbon following organizer Paddy Cosgrave’s remarks about Israel’s conduct. The report placed the withdrawal in a wider Israeli technology-sector campaign encouraging cancellations.5

[2024] KPMG Israel published a corporate LinkedIn post quoting an employee who said his reserve service was mainly in the West Bank and praised his motivation and contribution.6 [2024] A separate KPMG Israel post republished an employee’s account of combat-engineering service in Gaza that included taking, detonating and destroying houses and exposing tunnels; KPMG Israel called him a “real hero” and welcomed his return.7

[October 2026; current] KPMG Israel said it participated in a Tav Miluim reservist-support meeting at the President’s Residence with President Isaac Herzog and others, and said it would continue supporting reservists during service and on return to work.8

Comparative Silence

[2022] KPMG International publicly said it had a responsibility to respond to the Russian government’s ongoing military attack on Ukraine and announced that the Russia and Belarus firms would leave the network.9 [18 October 2023] The KPMG global-site Israel/Hamas item located in this audit was an employer mobility and safety alert describing the conflict, instability in Israel and Gaza, and travel/employee actions; the page states the content was submitted by KPMG firms in Finland and the United Kingdom.10 Targeted searches through 13 October 2026 did not identify a KPMG International statement comparably condemning Israeli government conduct or Palestinian civilian harm. This is a searched absence, not evidence that no such statement exists.

Market Framing

[2026; current] KPMG Israel presents its government work as professional consulting: its government team says it works closely with government offices through framework tenders across planning and policy, technology, digital solutions, budgeting and finance, including cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity.11 [2023-2024] Its conflict-period public material likewise framed assistance largely as business continuity, compensation, tax and regulatory support for the Israeli economy.4

Operations in Occupied or Contested Territories

Territorial Presence

[2026; current] KPMG Israel’s public branch list names Tel Aviv, Jerusalem at Har Hotzvim, Haifa, Be’er Sheva and Bnei Brak; no branch in a West Bank settlement is listed on that page.12 [2026; current] A separate KPMG regional page lists an independent Palestine-firm office in Ramallah.3

[Current KPMG client story; reviewed 13 October 2026] KPMG says it helped the Government of Israel develop and deploy a Google Cloud foundation, using specialists from KPMG member firms in the United States, Germany, Israel and India. The page says the team built a secure foundation supporting a pilot migration in 11 weeks and designed it for use across multiple government ministries.13 The page does not name Nimbus or provide a date for the engagement.

[2025-2026; current civil-society page] AFSC Investigate separately states that Israel contracted Somekh Chaikin-KPMG to establish a government cloud-migration strategy. On the same Nimbus analysis, AFSC identifies the World Zionist Organization Settlement Division and Israeli local governments among Nimbus users.14 Neither that source nor the KPMG client story establishes that KPMG itself contracted directly with the Settlement Division or a settlement municipality; no such direct KPMG work order was identified.

[2024] KPMG Israel’s corporate post about an employee serving mainly in the West Bank concerns the employee’s reserve military service and KPMG’s public praise for it; it is not evidence of a KPMG business office or commercial contract in the territory.6

Legal & Regulatory Scrutiny

[26 September 2025] OHCHR’s A/HRC/60/19 update listed 158 enterprises connected to specified settlement-related activities. Target-specific searches of the published UN material did not identify KPMG or Somekh Chaikin as a named listed enterprise. OHCHR also states that it reviewed 215 of 596 enterprises submitted for the update, so the published list is not exhaustive of every allegation received.15

[16 June 2025] A/HRC/59/23 states that it draws on the OHCHR database and a wider submission process concerning corporate entities. Target-specific text searches did not identify KPMG or Somekh Chaikin among the entities named in the report.16 Findings in that report concerning other companies were not attributed to KPMG.

[19 July 2024] In its advisory opinion, reproduced by the UN General Assembly as A/78/968, the ICJ held that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and that Israel must immediately cease all new settlement activity.17 [21 November 2024] the ICC announced arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.18 These dates are used here as temporal markers only. [2026; ongoing after both dates] KPMG Israel remained in Israeli-government consulting relationships, including a Ministry of Education engagement running through 31 December 2026 and a Ministry of Finance regulatory-policy consulting framework listing Somekh Chaikin through 31 March 2027.19, 20 [October 2026] its reservist-support communication also continued after both dates.8

Civil Society & Boycott Campaign History

[2025-2026; current] AFSC Investigate scrutinizes KPMG’s Nimbus consulting role in the context of settlement-related Nimbus users.14 no public evidence identified in the reviewed material of an organized KPMG-specific boycott/divestment/sanctions campaign by BDS Movement or Who Profits. The 2023 Web Summit episode was the reverse direction: KPMG Israel withdrew its own sponsorship/participation.5

Internal Governance, Content & Retail Policies

Employee Relations

[22 October 2023] Jonathan Lavender, now Deputy Senior Partner and Head of Advisory at KPMG Israel, publicly thanked KPMG Israel’s 200 reservists.21, 22 [2024] KPMG Israel subsequently highlighted individual reservists serving mainly in the West Bank and in Gaza.6, 7 [October 2026] the firm said it would continue promoting reservists’ rights and workplace support.8

No public evidence identified of KPMG International or KPMG Israel disciplining employees for pro-Palestinian speech, suing a union over pro-Palestine activity, or suppressing an Israel-Palestine shareholder proposal in the material reviewed.

Platform & Editorial Policy

[2026; current] KPMG describes the network’s core business as audit, tax and advisory professional services.1 no public evidence identified of KPMG operating a consumer social-media/content platform or of an algorithmic-moderation inquiry concerning KPMG and Israel-Palestine.

Retail & Supply Chain Practices

No public evidence identified of KPMG retail product labelling, settlement-origin product sourcing, or a regulatory action concerning such retail practices. The reviewed KPMG business is professional services.1

Brand Heritage & State Partnerships

Marketing Positioning

[2026; current] KPMG Israel markets government-sector capabilities in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, automation, regulatory, strategic and financial consulting.11 No military-origin corporate heritage was identified in the reviewed current KPMG International/KPMG Israel materials. The evidence instead shows a professional-services firm with current government and technology work.1, 11

Institutional Ties & Sponsorships

[Current KPMG client story; reviewed 13 October 2026] KPMG says a cross-member-firm team including KPMG Israel worked with the Government of Israel to develop and deploy a secure Google Cloud foundation for government use, including a pilot migration and a structure accommodating multiple ministries.13 The source does not identify a February 2022 date or name Nimbus, so those details are not inferred here.

[2026; current] the Ministry of Education has a Somekh Chaikin engagement for calendar year 2026 with a published value of NIS 1,645,864.19 [September 2026; current] a Ministry of Finance procurement notice for regulatory-policy consulting lists Somekh Chaikin among several suppliers for an engagement running to 31 March 2027; because the page repeats the same NIS 65 million figure for multiple suppliers, this audit does not treat NIS 65 million as a KPMG-specific payment.20

[October 2026] KPMG Israel’s participation in a reservist-support meeting at the President’s Residence is a documented non-commercial state-institution setting.8

[19 February 2026; KPMG Australia only] The Guardian reported that KPMG Australia asked Sydney Writers’ Festival to remove its name from the festival website after Palestinian-Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah was confirmed as a speaker. KPMG said it was the festival’s auditor rather than a partner, acknowledged receiving calls expressing concern, and did not confirm that Abdel-Fattah’s inclusion caused the request.23 This conduct is attributed to KPMG Australia only.

Lobbying, Advocacy, Financing & Logistics

Political Lobbying

[2023] KPMG Israel’s Web Summit withdrawal is a verified public action responding to speech about the Israel-Hamas war.5 no public evidence identified of KPMG International or Somekh Chaikin lobbying filings, PAC spending or a formal leadership role in a geopolitical pressure group specifically concerning Israel-Palestine, anti-BDS legislation or regional trade policy in the reviewed material.

Financial Contributions

No public evidence identified of a direct KPMG International or Somekh Chaikin corporate donation to the IDF, FIDF, JNF/KKL, a settlement organization or a military-welfare fund.

[2023-2024] KPMG Israel did advertise tax advice to donors and recipients and assistance with customs release of donations to the IDF on its Iron Swords hub.4 This establishes professional assistance around third-party donations, not a KPMG donation.

[23 October 2023; KPMG Canada affiliate only] KPMG Law LLP stated that it had been retained as co-counsel with Gowling WLG for Jewish National Fund of Canada in its dispute with the Canada Revenue Agency.24 [26 March 2026] a Federal Court of Appeal record reproduced by Tax Interpretations still listed KPMG Law LLP as counsel for JNF Canada.25 These records establish legal representation, not a financial contribution by KPMG to JNF Canada, and are not attributed to KPMG Israel or KPMG International.

Crisis Asset Mobilization

[2023-2024] KPMG Israel’s ALL IN hub mobilized professional services for wartime business continuity, tax, compensation and nonprofit issues, including customs-release assistance for IDF donations.4 [2023-2026] KPMG Israel also publicly supported employees on reserve duty, including a 2023 leadership post thanking 200 reservists and a 2026 commitment to continued workplace support.22, 8 no public evidence identified of KPMG donating its own cloud infrastructure, transport, weapons, physical logistics or free technical services directly to the IDF.

Corporate Structure & Primary Mission

Foundational Mandate

[2026; current] KPMG International is an English private company limited by guarantee that coordinates independent member firms; it does not itself provide client professional services and is not a single multinational corporation with the member firms.1 [2026; current] Somekh Chaikin is a registered Israeli partnership and KPMG member firm.2

No public evidence identified in the reviewed governance materials of a state-held golden share or a founding charter whose primary mission is to advance Israeli geopolitical goals. KPMG Israel’s documented state relationships are presented as commercial/professional government consulting engagements.11, 19, 20

Executive & Leadership Footprint

Personal Philanthropy & Financing

[2026; current] Eran Shalev is KPMG Israel’s CEO and Managing Partner; Gad Somekh is Chairman of Somekh Chaikin; Jonathan Lavender is Deputy Senior Partner and Head of Advisory.26, 27, 21 Focused searches on these named principals did not identify verifiable personal donations, family-foundation grants or fundraising by them for FIDF, JNF/KKL, settlement organizations or military-welfare funds. No public evidence identified.

Public Advocacy & Statements

[22 October 2023] Jonathan Lavender publicly thanked “our 200 reservists” at KPMG Israel.22 [2024] KPMG Israel corporate communications praised employees’ reserve service in the West Bank and Gaza, including the Gaza employee’s described house-destruction and tunnel-exposure role.6, 7 No separate verifiable public Israel-Palestine statement by Eran Shalev or Gad Somekh was identified in the reviewed material.

Board Memberships & Affiliations

[2026; current] KPMG’s official profile says Gad Somekh is active in KPMG’s International Council and is an adviser to governmental institutions.27 no public evidence identified of Shalev, Somekh or Lavender holding a board seat or leadership role in FIDF, JNF/KKL, AIPAC, an anti-BDS organization or a settlement organization in the reviewed material.

Footnotes

  1. KPMG International, “Governance” (current; reviewed 13 October 2026). https://kpmg.com/xx/en/about/governance.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  2. KPMG Israel, “Privacy” (last updated April 2026). https://kpmg.com/il/en/misc/privacy.html ↩ ↩2

  3. KPMG Saudi Levant careers, “Locations” (current; reviewed 13 October 2026). https://slccareers.kpmg.com/content/location/?locale=en_US ↩ ↩2

  4. KPMG Israel, “Iron Swords - Business Updates / ALL IN by KPMG” (2023-2024 content; current page reviewed 13 October 2026). https://kpmg.co.il/%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%96%D7%9C-%D7%A2%D7%93%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A2%D7%A1%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. CTech, “Israeli high-tech leaders boycott Web Summit over organizer’s critique of Israel’s actions” (16 October 2023). https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjbwvj9wp ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. KPMG Israel, LinkedIn post quoting reservist service mainly in the West Bank (2024). https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kpmg_israel_%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9D%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%A0%D7%95-activity-7229420607396888576-c5TX ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  7. KPMG Israel, LinkedIn post quoting combat-engineering reserve service in Gaza (2024). https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kpmg_israel_%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9D%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%A0%D7%95-activity-7236630554459144192-e8kn ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. KPMG Israel, LinkedIn company page, Tav Miluim/President’s Residence post (October 2026). https://il.linkedin.com/company/kpmg_israel ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  9. KPMG International, “IMPORTANT UPDATE: Russia/Belarus” (2022). https://kpmg.com/xx/en/media/press-releases/2022/03/important-update-russia-belarus.html ↩

  10. KPMG, “Finland & United Kingdom - Update: Companies with Employees in Israel,” GMS Flash Alert 2023-194 (18 October 2023). https://kpmg.com/xx/en/our-insights/gms-flash-alert/flash-alert-2023-194.html ↩

  11. KPMG Israel, “Government” (current; reviewed 13 October 2026). https://kpmg.com/il/en/industries/government.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  12. KPMG Israel, “Contact us - Our Branches” (current; reviewed 13 October 2026). https://kpmg.co.il/en/contact-us ↩

  13. KPMG, “It takes a commitment this strong to build a cloud foundation this quickly” (Government of Israel client story; current page reviewed 13 October 2026). https://kpmg.com/us/en/how-we-work/client-stories/govt-of-israel-client-story.html ↩ ↩2

  14. AFSC Investigate, “Alphabet Inc” (current page reviewed 13 October 2026), Nimbus section. https://investigate.afsc.org/company/alphabet ↩ ↩2

  15. United Nations/OHCHR, “Report: UN Human Rights Office updates database of businesses involved in Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank (A/HRC/60/19)” (26 September 2025). https://www.un.org/unispal/document/business-database-26sep25/ ↩

  16. United Nations, “From economy of occupation to economy of genocide - A/HRC/59/23” (16 June 2025). https://www.un.org/unispal/document/a-hrc-59-23-from-economy-of-occupation-to-economy-of-genocide-report-special-rapporteur-francesca-albanese-palestine-2025/ ↩

  17. United Nations General Assembly, A/78/968, reproduction of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/218/00/pdf/n2421800.pdf ↩

  18. International Criminal Court, “Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I … issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant” (21 November 2024). https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-state-palestine-icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-rejects-state-israels-challenges?ftag=YHF4eb9d17 ↩

  19. Government Procurement Administration, Ministry of Education notice 4000608386 (published 28 October 2025; engagement 1 January–31 December 2026). https://mr.gov.il/ilgstorefront/he/p/4000608386 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  20. Government Procurement Administration, Ministry of Finance notice 4000622226 (published 24 September 2026). https://www.mr.gov.il/ilgstorefront/en/p/4000622226 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  21. KPMG Israel, “Jonathan Lavender - Deputy Senior Partner & Head of Advisory” (current; reviewed 13 October 2026). https://kpmg.com/il/en/contacts/l/jonathan-lavender.html ↩ ↩2

  22. Jonathan Lavender, LinkedIn, “Thank you to our 200 reservists at KPMG Israel” (22 October 2023). https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jonathan-lavender-02211915_%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%93%D7%94-%D7%9C-200-%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%90%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%A0%D7%95-%D7%91-kpmg-israel-activity-7121907893401976832-NY9R ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  23. The Guardian, “KPMG asks Sydney writers’ festival to delete its name from website after Randa Abdel-Fattah confirmed as speaker” (19 February 2026). https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/19/sydney-writers-festival-swf-kpmg-sponsor-randa-abdel-fattah-speaker ↩

  24. KPMG Law LLP, submission to Canada Revenue Agency regarding Jewish National Fund of Canada Inc. (23 October 2023). https://jnf.ca/cra/docs/08-4_KPMGSubmissiondatedOctober23_2023.pdf ↩

  25. Federal Court of Appeal record reproduced by Tax Interpretations, “Jewish National Fund of Canada Inc. v. Canada (National Revenue), 2026 FCA 63” (26 March 2026). https://taxinterpretations.com/content/1129507 ↩

  26. KPMG Israel, “Eran Shalev - CEO of KPMG Israel” (current; reviewed 13 October 2026). https://kpmg.com/il/en/contacts/s/eran-shalev.html ↩

  27. KPMG Israel, “Gad Somekh - Chairman” (current; reviewed 13 October 2026). https://kpmg.com/il/en/contacts/s/gad-somekh.html ↩ ↩2