Jared Kushner, the Bank of Israel, and the difference between allegations and facts - opinion

Gershon Baskin defends Jared Kushner against Vanity Fair allegations of a secret $1 billion account at the Bank of Israel, arguing the claim is incompatible with the central bank's rules. Baskin states he has spoken with Kushner and believes he cares about Israel and Palestinians, calling for scrutiny grounded in facts.

Gershon Baskin, Middle East director of the International Communities Organization, writes an opinion piece defending Jared Kushner against allegations published in Vanity Fair on October 22, 2026. The article by Matthew Cole claimed approximately $1 billion was transferred into an account at the Bank of Israel connected to Kushner for his personal benefit. Baskin argues this is incompatible with the Bank of Israel's rules, as it is a central bank that does not offer private banking to individuals. He states he has spoken with Kushner personally and believes Kushner cares about Israel and the Palestinian people, and worked to bring Israeli hostages home from Gaza. Baskin calls for scrutiny grounded in facts and questions the reliability of the reporting without a clear explanation of how such an arrangement could exist. He notes he has no firsthand knowledge of Kushner's private business dealings.