In a recent scandal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office finds itself embroiled in controversy due to the arrest of two close advisors. These associates are suspected of taking money from Qatar to help create a favorable view of the Gulf Arab nation within Israel. The issue has captured the attention of the Israeli public, especially due to Qatar being perceived as a supporter of Hamas, a group with which Israel has no formal diplomatic relationships. Though Qatar serves as a mediator in ceasefire discussions with Israel, it refutes any accusations of aiding Hamas.
Netanyahu, currently facing a lengthy corruption trial and frequently criticizing a supposed “deep state” targeting him, has provided his statement to police. He dismisses the accusations, calling them baseless and politically motivated attempts to dethrone him. Critics argue that Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has recently engaged in activities undermining the nation’s institutions, particularly the judiciary system. A cause for concern is his attempt to dismiss the head of Israel’s domestic security agency, who is investigating these alleged ties between Netanyahu’s office and Qatar.
The scandal, termed “Qatargate” by local media, focuses on accusations that two of Netanyahu’s advisors, Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, were involved in managing a public-relations campaign to polish Qatar’s image in Israel. During Qatar’s negotiations on behalf of Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza, payments were reported to be routed through an American lobbyist. The court documents suggest this lobbyist and Urich created a “business connection” to promote Qatar positively and disseminate adverse narratives about Egypt, another crucial player in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks. Feldstein allegedly conveyed these narratives to the media and, along with Urich, might face charges related to foreign agent contact, money laundering, bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
This investigation also touched Zvika Klein, an editor at the Jerusalem Post, who visited Qatar and penned articles presenting the country’s arguments against Israeli claims of its backing of Hamas. The newspaper reported that Klein, who could not be reached for comments, is currently prohibited from communicating with journalists.
Netanyahu lambasted the investigation as a politically driven witch hunt and accused the authorities of holding his advisors as “hostages,” which sparked anger in Israel, as Hamas still holds many captives after its October 7, 2023 attack, reigniting the war. Meanwhile, a judge extended the detentions of Urich and Feldstein, who is embroiled in a separate case involving leaked classified information to a German newspaper.
Tomer Naor of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel remarked that the implications of the scandal, should it be true, represent an abuse of office, pointing to how easily external influencers seemingly accessed the prime minister’s inner circle. The advisors allegedly presented Qatari interests as advisories originating from the prime minister’s office.
Qatar, a critical mediator in Gaza with ties to Hamas, played a significant role in a previous ceasefire. Israelis view the resource-rich nation with suspicion, partly due to its regular financial assistance to Gaza, some of which is believed to aid Hamas militarily. Qatar’s humanitarian actions in Gaza have been conducted with Israeli government knowledge, though the motives are questioned due to the state being home to Hamas’ political leadership, and Al Jazeera, which is perceived in Israel as a Hamas mouthpiece, an allegation the network denies.
In response, a Qatari government official did not directly link to the allegations but affirmed ongoing mediation efforts in Gaza. Qatar aims to enhance its regional influence, rebranding from its previous perceived affiliation with extremist groups and Iran, while Israel criticizes it for not pressing Hamas sufficiently during current conflicts.
Senior researcher Yoel Guzansky suggests that Qatar’s alleged PR campaign was intended to refute its critics and prevent its portrayal to the U.S., with whom it maintains solid security relations. He speculated that discrediting Egypt, an established mediator, might have sought to elevate Qatar’s status.
While controversy lingers over Netanyahu’s knowledge or involvement in his advisors’ actions, his term has been marked by previous aides turning state witness against him in his ongoing trial. His testimony was interrupted following Urich and Feldstein’s arrest.
Netanyahu faces public scrutiny over his responsibility in the ongoing crisis, notably regarding aid to Gaza that might have emboldened Hamas. Recent protests erupted over his decision to end the Gaza ceasefire and his attempts to remove top domestic security officials caring for related investigations. The courts have intervened, stalling the firing of the domestic agency chief amidst accusations of Netanyahu trying to quash the inquiry. Still, Netanyahu moves to appoint his replacement, highlighting the ongoing turmoil in his leadership amidst the mounting scandals.