Vanity Fair Report Links Jared Kushner to Secret Billions from Gulf States

A Vanity Fair investigation alleges that Jared Kushner, former senior advisor to President Donald Trump, was involved in secret financial arrangements involving billions of dollars transferred from Gulf states, with some funds allegedly reaching Israel. The report, based on information obtained by Dutch intelligence from Russian military intelligence files, claims that Dutch intelligence agents tracked Kushner's phone after it was compromised by Russian hackers. This surveillance reportedly uncovered bank accounts and large money transfers linked to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

The investigation, detailed in journalist Matthew Cole's new book, suggests that Dutch intelligence gained access to Russian GRU servers in late 2017, uncovering screenshots from Kushner's iPhone. This led them to observe Kushner accessing a bank account in the UAE, dubbed "Alpha," at the First Abu Dhabi Bank. Between 2017 and an unspecified later date, approximately $750 million was allegedly transferred to this account by Saudi and Emirati entities. While Kushner was not the official owner, he was reportedly an authorized signatory for the account, which was held by the UAE government-funded charity Watani Al Emarat. The report claims this charity was a front for covert military and intelligence operations, including arms purchases.

According to sources cited in the report, the "Alpha" account was intended as a fund for foreign policy objectives. Kushner, UAE Ruler Mohammed bin Zayed, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had initially discussed establishing a fund exceeding $10 billion for purposes such as promoting bin Salman's claim to the throne, abrogating the Iran nuclear deal, and advancing an Israeli-Palestinian settlement. The broader fund idea was reportedly abandoned in favor of separate accounts designated for Kushner.

A central claim of the report concerns a separate account, "Beta," to which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed allegedly transferred about $1 billion to Israel in the spring of 2018 for Kushner's use. A source told the author that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encouraged Kushner to deposit this money into an Israeli bank, presenting it as a government account. The funds were reportedly intended for Kushner's personal use, with a significant portion later transferred to Cyprus and other destinations. Netanyahu allegedly demanded to be updated before any actions were taken with the account, with messages relayed through then-US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.

Friedman has denied any knowledge of funds made available to Kushner from the UAE or any involvement in relaying messages. Kushner's lawyer also denied the existence of such an account. The report also mentions a third, separate financial arrangement related to security cooperation between Israel and the UAE, where the UAE allegedly made a payment to an Israeli bank to fund a defense pact against potential Iranian attacks. Kushner has vehemently denied all allegations, calling them "completely untrue" and "outrageous fabrications."