On March 31, investigators detained and placed under house arrest two of Benjamin Netanyahu's aides — Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein. They are suspected of receiving money from Qatar for lobbying its interests. The Prime Minister himself was also questioned, as reported by Times of Israel, after reviewing Netanyahu's testimony, the Attorney General will decide if there are grounds to change his status in the case.
A joint investigation by the police and special services was launched after it became known that Netanyahu's former press secretary Feldstein worked at an international firm hired by Qatar to supply Israeli journalists with pro-Qatar materials while working in the Prime Minister's office. According to the Attorney General, he could have represented Qatari business initiatives in a favorable light. Later, Prime Minister's advisor Yonatan Urich joined this activity, and both of them, according to the investigation, received money from American lobbyist Jay Footlik. In March, the police questioned them on suspicion of contacts with a foreign agent, fraud, money laundering, and bribery.
Ynet writes that Feldstein may also face charges related to damaging Israel's national security due to the leak of classified Israel Defense Forces documents.
Amit Hadad, Urich's lawyer, appealed to the court to lift the ban on publishing details of the 'Qatargate' scandal to expose the 'absurd accusations.' The court granted the petition.
The 'Likud' party issued a statement about the attack on the right-wing government, and Netanyahu himself went further, declaring his aides 'hostages,' which further strained his already difficult relations with the families of Israeli hostages. 'They are holding Urich and Feldstein hostage and making their lives miserable for no reason. This is a political witch hunt aimed only at preventing the resignation of the head of Shabak and achieving the overthrow of the right-wing Prime Minister,' Netanyahu stated.
'The families of the hostages are outraged and offended by the Prime Minister Netanyahu's poor choice of words tonight. Netanyahu, you are confused. We remind you that the real hostages are our 59 brothers and sisters who have been in Gaza for 542 days,' the Headquarters of the Families of the Abducted responded in a statement.
According to Times of Israel, the investigation is focused on possible payments from Qatar to Netanyahu's entourage in 2022–2024. Netanyahu's entourage denies all accusations.
Photo: AP