A Beverly Hills rabbi is leading a protest against the sale of a $400 million Bel-Air mega-mansion, alleging that the proceeds will fund terrorism. Rabbi Pini Dunner plans to picket the West Hollywood offices of luxury real estate agency The Beverly Hills Estates, which represents the property.
The mansion is reportedly tied to the family of Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (HBJ), the former Prime Minister of Qatar. Rabbi Dunner stated that the sale would “enrich one of the most powerful members of the Qatari royal family, who has an international reputation for supporting terrorist groups, including Hamas, for sheltering terrorist and extremist leaders in Doha and cultivating close ties to the Iranian regime.”
Dunner, a senior rabbi at the Beverly Hills Synagogue, claims the funds from the sale would be used to finance "America's worst enemies." He described HBJ as a "war criminal" and an ally of Hamas, asserting that the "money from the sale of the house is going to be used to fund the enemies of America." The rabbi suggested that the sale is occurring due to financial pressures, stating, "They need to repatriate the cash because their cash flow is a disaster as a result of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz."
In a statement, Dunner said HBJ "is cashing in on American misery, and laughing all the way to the bank. We cannot let it happen." He further claimed there is a "direct line between HBJ and people being murdered on October 7 through his money," referencing the Hamas attack on Israel.
Dunner acknowledged he lacks the power to halt the sale but expressed hope that public attention could lead to the freezing of the proceeds. "The greatest result I could have from the protest is that the broker withdraws the sale," he said.
Rabbi Dunner stated he notified The Beverly Hills Estates of his planned protest but had not received a response. The real estate agency did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Dunner has previously protested at the mega-mansion and at The Maybourne Beverly Hills hotel, which he claims is co-owned by HBJ and Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar and father of the current Emir.
In an opinion piece for The Washington Times, Dunner criticized Qatar's role as a mediator post-October 7, stating, "Qatar presented itself as a mediator after Oct. 7, yet it actively funds Hamas, hosts Hamas’ political leadership in Doha and maintains contact with its commanders in Gaza." He added, "No one should praise a government for helping secure the release of hostages whose kidnapping it made possible."
The estate was purchased for $35 million in 2010 by a group linked to the Al Thani family, and its construction took ten years to complete. If sold at its asking price, the property would set a new record as the first residential property in American history to exceed $400 million.