Real Time Season 6 Episode 1 Operation Gertler Part I

The Dan Gertler affair stands at the center of one of the most complex and gripping investigations in the history of the Israeli oligarchy and the global economy. Gertler, an ultra-Orthodox businessman and philanthropist, became the key figure behind massive diamond, copper, and cobalt mining deals in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the heart of the African continent, where vast natural resources meet extreme political instability, Gertler managed to forge a tight-knit network of connections with the ruling elite, granting him control over resources valued at billions of dollars. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at "Operation Gertler"—a tangled web of shell companies and confidential bank accounts designed to bypass severe sanctions imposed by the U.S. government. International regulators and global anti-corruption watchdogs placed Gertler at the center of large-scale investigations, following suspicions that he used his influence to acquire mining concessions at rock-bottom prices at the expense of the impoverished Congolese people. It is a story of power, wealth, and politics moving along the axis between Bnei Brak, Kinshasa, and Washington. Through exclusive testimonies, newly declassified documents, and rare field footage, the first part of this investigation analyzes the fascinating dynamic between the Israeli billionaire and the former President of the Congo, Joseph Kabila. Viewers will be exposed to the financial machinery that allowed Gertler to become the most powerful man in the country while navigating a minefield of conflicts of interest and bribery allegations. This chapter examines how one man managed to become such an influential force in the global economy and the cobalt market—the critical mineral for the era of electric vehicles and smartphones. "Zman Emet" brings to the screen a documentary drama that blends the tension of a spy thriller with meticulous investigative journalism. In this segment, the foundation is laid for understanding the scandal that shook the banking and diplomatic worlds, raising poignant questions about morality versus profit and the price developing nations pay in the 21st-century race for wealth. It is a journey into the heart of big money, institutionalized corruption, and the man who found himself at the eye of an international storm.

Video transcript