New Book Alleges Netanyahu Urged Kushner to Deposit UAE Funds in Bank of Israel

A newly released book in the United States claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encouraged Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law, to deposit approximately $1 billion secretly received from the UAE into an account at the Bank of Israel. Netanyahu also allegedly requested to be informed of any money transfers from this account.

The allegations are detailed in a book by American investigative journalist Matthew Cole, with excerpts published in "Vanity Fair." Cole, who specializes in covering U.S. intelligence agencies, reports that the funds, transferred to Israel via Azerbaijan in 2018, were intended for Kushner personally and were part of larger secret accounts totaling $2 billion transferred by UAE and Saudi rulers during Trump's presidency.

Kushner has vehemently denied the book's claims, calling them baseless lies without evidence. However, the book cites intelligence sources who allegedly had insight into the secret management of these funds, suggesting Netanyahu's involvement in overseeing one of the accounts. According to one source, Netanyahu advised Kushner to deposit the money in the Bank of Israel to make it appear as government funds, as personal accounts cannot be opened there.

Netanyahu also allegedly asked Kushner to notify him before any transfers were made. Communications were reportedly facilitated through the then-U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, who met Netanyahu frequently, though Friedman has denied any involvement. The book suggests the arrangement was intended to conceal the connection between funds transferred by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed to Kushner. A source mentioned in the book stated they helped Kushner move the money out of Israel, with significant portions later transferred to accounts in Cyprus and elsewhere.

The investigation into Kushner's finances began in 2017 when Dutch military intelligence discovered Russian hackers had accessed his phone. This led to the discovery of screenshots from Kushner's iPhone on a Russian military intelligence server. Dutch intelligence gained access to a secret Russian server, which revealed Kushner's access to a Dubai bank account, "Alpha," managed by First Abu Dhabi Bank and registered to a UAE charitable foundation close to the regime. This account reportedly received hundreds of millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia and the UAE since 2017 to fund political initiatives and covert operations in the Middle East.

According to the book, Tahnoun bin Zayed, the UAE president's brother and then-head of the bank, authorized Kushner to manage the "Al-Watan" charitable fund. However, a source familiar with the fund stated the UAE regime uses it to conceal arms purchases and fund covert military and intelligence operations abroad. The book further alleges Kushner transferred large sums from the Dubai account to individuals, including a mercenary. These funds were reportedly part of a broader agreement between Kushner, bin Zayed, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aimed at advancing shared interests, such as pressuring Palestinians for an Israel-friendly settlement and facilitating bin Salman's rise to the Saudi throne.

The book, titled "Princes and Thieves," is expected to be released next week. Cole stated he spent five years researching the book, focusing on Kushner's business and political ties with Gulf states, which continued after he left the White House in 2021 with the establishment of a Saudi-funded investment fund.