A new book alleges that Jared Kushner, senior adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump, was granted access to foreign bank accounts holding billions of dollars from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, including an account at the Israeli Central Bank. These claims are detailed in Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East, with an excerpt published by Vanity Fair.
Author Matthew Cole writes that Dutch intelligence (MIVD) hacked Kushner’s phone and discovered he had accessed a UAE-controlled account funded by hundreds of millions transferred from a bank in Azerbaijan starting in 2017. According to the book, the Azerbaijani financial system is frequently used to launder large foreign currency sums into U.S. dollars.
One source close to the situation claimed that Kushner sought expedited diplomatic outcomes and offered to advance the regional agendas of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in exchange for contributions to a discretionary fund aimed at achieving diplomatic goals—including Israeli-Palestinian normalization. The source remarked, “A billion or two is nothing for them, and if it gets them what they want, it’s money well spent.”
While Kushner did not own the account, the book states that it was managed under the cover of the Emirati charity Watani Al Emarat Foundation, with Kushner listed as a signatory and thus having potential access to its funds. Cole likens this arrangement to a hypothetical scenario where Kushner operated like a CIA director overseeing covert foreign operations—with presidential approval and congressional oversight.
However, according to four sources cited in the book—including two former national security advisors, a past White House chief of staff, and a former CIA director—no formal authorization from Trump or congressional notification was ever documented for such arrangements. Kushner’s legal representative responded sharply, denying any unauthorized agreements and asserting that all actions were taken with Trump’s consent and in America’s interest.
MBZ Said to Fund Israeli Account for Kushner With Netanyahu’s Alleged Awareness
The book further alleges that another account, reportedly backed by MBZ, was opened in Israel, receiving over $1 billion by spring 2018. A former associate of Kushner told Vanity Fair that much of the money was moved through Cyprus before being distributed elsewhere to obscure its origin.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have known about the account and encouraged Kushner to deposit the funds into what may have been a government-linked account at the Bank of Israel. However, KAN News pointed out that the Bank of Israel does not handle private accounts and typically requires dual authorization for transactions. Netanyahu reportedly instructed Kushner to notify him prior to any activity via messages relayed through then-U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
Friedman publicly denied involvement, stating: “I know absolutely nothing about any of these allegations… The specific allegations about me or my alleged involvement in this alleged scheme are 100% false.”
Kushner’s lawyers also rejected the claims outright, insisting there were “no accounts and never were.”
Additionally, the book describes a third account negotiated by Kushner intended as a contingency fund for the UAE to potentially compensate Israel in case of significant Iranian threats—a mechanism tied to growing Israel-UAE cooperation.
Kushner Denies Misconduct, Calls Allegations Fabricated
Responding to the Vanity Fair excerpt, Kushner dismissed the accusations as “outrageous and categorically false.” On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he emphasized that during the timeframe referenced, he remained one of the most investigatedfigures globally, yet no evidence supporting the book’s claims had emerged.
He criticized the lack of substantiation: “No bank statements, wire transfer records, account numbers, transaction dates, or other verifiable details were provided to support these extraordinary accusations. This is not journalism. It is a mixture of fantasy, fiction, and advocacy, written by someone who is either deeply disturbed or acting with sinister intent.”
His attorney, Chad Mizelle, confirmed plans to take legal action against those involved in spreading what they termed “defamatory and false” allegations.
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