Israeli police said on Monday that they had arrested two of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein on Monday, suspected of illegal ties with the Qatari government.
Monday’s arrests mark a development in what local media has nicknamed Qatargate – an investigation sounding a potential potential influence, national security violations and political fault.
Shortly after the arrests, Netanyahu himself was summoned by police in his office in Jerusalem. He had left his current corruption trial in Tel Aviv earlier during the day to comply with the quotation issued by the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, according to Israeli media.
Netanyahu is not listed as a suspect in the case. He was questioned as someone knowing the case, local media reported.
The arrests were carried out by Lahav 433, the unit of anti-corruption elite and serious crimes of Israel, in coordination with the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet. The investigation operates under a gag order imposed by the court until April 10.
Allegations at the heart of the Qatargate affair
The case focuses on the allegations according to which Feldstein, the former spokesperson of Netanyahu, worked for an international company contracted by Qatar when it was simultaneous at the Prime Minister’s office. According to investigators, Feldstein has promoted pro-Qatar accounts to Israeli media while receiving payments from the Gulf State.
Feldstein previously faced accusations for having disclosed classified documents linked to hostage negotiations with Hamas.
The current survey increases these accusations, which potentially implies other people in the inner circle of Netanyahu in a larger program involving foreign interference and improper use of government resources.
The accusations exposed include corruption, violation of confidence, money laundering, contact with a foreign agent and national security violations.
Netanyahu’s Likoud party condemns the investigation
Netanyahu’s ruling party responded with fierce conviction, qualifying the arrests of politically motivated and was part of an orchestrated effort to overthrow the Prime Minister.
A declaration published by the party on Monday accused the office of the Attorney General and Shin Bet of “conducting fabricated investigations” and of “carrying out a coup d’etat through arrest terms”.
“It is not an investigation. It is not the police,” read the declaration. “This is an attempted assassination on democracy.”
The party said the arrests were intended to block Netanyahu’s efforts to reject Shin Bet Ronen Bar leader and prosecutor Baharav-Miara, who are both under control of the government.
The Supreme Court temporarily frozen the withdrawal of the bar and will hear the case on April 8.
But the opposition postponed Likud’s story. Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid Party, criticized the non-compliance with the power block to directly refuse financial ties between the aid of Netanyahu and Qatar.
“The sentence that does not appear in the Likoud declaration and which should be noted:” person from the office of Benjamin Netanyahu has received money from Qatar, “said Lapid during a parliamentary session.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s legal problems continue on several fronts. Aside from the Qatargate investigation, he remains judged for corruption, fraud and violation of confidence in cases of unrelated corruption.
Why Qatar?
Although Israel and Qatar lack official diplomatic ties, Doha played a key mediation role in indirect negotiations with Hamas during the current war in Gaza.
The alleged financial links of the Gulf Nation with the aid of Netanyahu – especially during sensitive host -hosting talks – have raised concerns about national security and foreign influence.
Legal experts suggest that if Qatar funds were indeed channeled by Israeli officials in active negotiations, this could constitute a serious violation of national security laws.
Edited by Richard Connor
