A recent publication by American investigative journalist Matthew Cole has stirred controversy, shedding light on a purported secret plot between Jared Kushner, senior advisor to former US President Donald Trump, and Mohamed bin Zayed, the ruler of the United Arab Emirates. The book, titled "Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East," was released in October 2026 by Atria/One Signal Publishers. Cole, a national security specialist, previously worked with ABC and NBC news channels and The Intercept website.
According to the book, a significant part of the plot involved the creation of secret bank accounts containing billions of dollars. These accounts, allegedly named "Alpha" and "Beta," were said to hold around $2 billion, provided by Mohamed bin Zayed to Kushner. The funds were reportedly channeled into these accounts to influence Trump's Middle East policies, favoring the interests of the UAE and Israel. One of the accounts, "Alpha," received approximately $750 million and was managed by a UAE government-funded charity, with Kushner having signing authority.
The book also details the involvement of high-ranking officials and the methods used to transfer and manage these secret funds. For instance, it is claimed that $1 billion was transferred to account "Beta" through Azerbaijan and deposited into the Central Bank of Israel. The book suggests that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encouraged Kushner to make this deposit, with communications facilitated by former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
A significant aspect of the alleged plot was the goal of reshaping the Middle East to serve the interests of Gulf countries, particularly the UAE and Israel. This included efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states, as seen in the Abraham Accords, and to diminish the Palestinian issue. The book raises questions about potential violations of US federal bribery laws by Kushner, given his involvement with foreign governments and failure to disclose his assets and accounts.
The book also mentions an incident where Russian hackers allegedly infiltrated Kushner's phone in late 2017. It is claimed that Dutch intelligence services discovered the breach and used the compromised phone to monitor Kushner's banking activities, uncovering large financial transactions linked to the UAE and Israel. A senior Emirati intelligence official, Ali Al-Shamisi, was quoted describing Kushner as "the most expensive employee we’ve ever had."
The allegations in the book have sparked significant interest and debate, with many questioning the extent of Kushner's involvement with foreign governments and the use of secret funds. While Kushner and his associates have denied the allegations, the book has brought attention to the complex relationships between high-ranking officials and foreign leaders during the Trump administration.
The Sudanese media outlet Al-Tayar published excerpts of the book, highlighting the alleged plot and its implications for the Middle East region. The publication has contributed to the ongoing discussion about the book's claims and the potential consequences for those involved.
Key points
- The book "Princes and Thieves" alleges a secret plot between Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed to reshape the Middle East.
- The plot involved the creation of secret bank accounts containing billions of dollars, allegedly used to influence Trump's Middle East policies.
- The book raises questions about potential violations of US federal bribery laws by Kushner and the use of secret funds.
