Netanyahu Condemns Allegations of Qatari Influence Amid Ongoing Investigations
The ‘Qatar-Gate’ affair has led to the detention of two suspects related to alleged payments from the Qatari government to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office. Netanyahu vehemently denies wrongdoing, likening the situation to political investigations involving Trump. Former Prime Minister Bennett has criticized Netanyahu, labeling the actions as potential treason. A gag order inhibits further information dissemination, while media outlets seek its lifting.
In a developing controversy known as the “Qatar-Gate” affair, Israeli police have detained two individuals amid allegations of financial connections between the Qatari government and personnel in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. This situation has drawn heightened scrutiny and has prompted Netanyahu to strongly deny any wrongdoing through a pointed post on social media.
Netanyahu’s post, which was later removed and reposted on his personal account, compared the situation to political investigations facing former U.S. President Donald Trump. It asserted, “In America and in Israel, when a strong right-wing leader wins an election, the leftist Deep State weaponizes the justice system to thwart the people’s will,” affirming solidarity between the two nations.
The allegations escalated after Israeli businessman Gil Birger confessed to transferring funds from a Qatari lobbyist to Eli Feldstein, a spokesperson for Netanyahu. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned Netanyahu, claiming that permitting Qatari influence equated to treason if deliberate, or indicated serious security concerns if unknowing. He stated, “Qatar, the main financial backer of Hamas, funded the security spokesman of Israel’s Prime Minister—during wartime.”
Netanyahu’s office has categorically rejected the allegations as “baseless fake news,” calling the narrative a desperate attempt to create a crime without evidence. A gag order currently restricts the release of significant details regarding the police investigation, leading prominent Israeli media outlets to seek its removal through legal action.
Reports suggest that Feldstein, who had previously failed a security clearance, did not receive direct salary payments from Netanyahu’s office. Instead, it is claimed he was compensated indirectly through Qatari-linked funds, involving several intermediaries including lobbyist Jay Footlik and businessman Gil Birger.
Amidst growing concerns over the implications of the scandal, Jonathan Urich, a close ally of Netanyahu, has been implicated in arranging these financial transactions. His legal representative has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of the transactions in question. The Attorney General’s Office has called upon Shin Bet and the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Qatar’s involvement with Netanyahu’s administration.
The ongoing “Qatar-Gate” affair has intensified scrutiny on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following the detention of two suspects linked to alleged Qatari financial influence in his office. Amid vigorous denials from Netanyahu’s camp, the former Prime Minister Bennett has raised serious security concerns about such connections. A gag order restricts key information from being disclosed, complicating the public’s understanding of the situation as investigations progress.
Original Source: www.ynetnews.com
