Israel is facing another major political scandal after two of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close advisers were arrested. The advisers—Jonatan Urich, his longtime media consultant, and Eli Feldstein, a former spokesman—are suspected of taking money from Qatar, a Gulf country, to make it look good in Israel.
Qatar has no formal ties with Israel and is often criticized for supporting Hamas, the group behind the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Still, Qatar has also been involved in ceasefire talks and has sent money to help people in Gaza.
Police believe that Urich and Feldstein were secretly working with an American lobbyist to run a public relations campaign that spread pro-Qatar messages and attacked Egypt, another key player in the peace talks with Hamas. The money for this campaign may have been sent through foreign channels. Feldstein is also involved in another case about leaking secret information to a foreign newspaper.
Israeli Spyware Paragon Scandal Deepens: Italian Journalists and Activists Targeted
According to the investigation, Urich made a business deal with the American lobbyist. Feldstein was then paid to share Qatar’s messages with Israeli journalists, making it seem like these messages came directly from the Prime Minister’s office. If found guilty, the two could face serious charges including bribery, fraud, money laundering, and breach of trust.
Qatar’s Role in Gaza Raises Suspicions
Qatar has long played a role in Gaza, sending money starting in 2018 to help poor families. This was approved by Netanyahu’s government. But some experts believe that part of the money helped Hamas’ military wing, possibly even preparing for the deadly October 7 attack.
Qatar is home to Hamas’ top leaders and owns the Al Jazeera news network, which many in Israel believe supports Hamas. Though Qatar denies backing the group, it is seen by many Israelis as a country that quietly strengthens Israel’s enemies while pretending to help.
One of the journalists questioned in the case is Zvika Klein, the editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post. He visited Qatar in 2023, at the invitation of its government, and later wrote several articles with a tone seen as supportive of Qatar’s side of the story. Klein is now banned from speaking to the media while the case is ongoing.
According to Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, Qatar may have wanted to improve its image in Israel and the United States. By making Egypt look bad and boosting its own reputation, Qatar might have been trying to increase its importance in peace talks.
Netanyahu Under Pressure as Crisis Grows
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is not involved in the scandal and that the investigation is part of a political plot to bring him down. He called the arrests a form of “hostage-taking” by the police, a comment that upset many, since dozens of Israelis are still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Aviation Scandal: Western Sanctions Loophole Exposed
Netanyahu gave a statement to police but is not currently a suspect. However, this is just the latest in a long list of problems for him. He is already facing a corruption trial, and critics say he has tried to weaken key Israeli institutions like the judiciary and security agencies.
Recently, Netanyahu tried to fire Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service. This move came right as the agency began investigating the Qatar connection. A court has blocked the firing for now, but Netanyahu is still trying to appoint a replacement. He claims the investigation was created by Bar and the attorney general to stop him from making leadership changes.
Protests have broken out in Israel over the way Netanyahu ended the Gaza ceasefire and how his decisions may be tied to the failure to prevent the October 7 attacks. Many are demanding answers and accountability from the government.
This scandal—nicknamed “Qatargate” by the media—has made people question how easily foreign influence may have reached the Prime Minister’s closest advisers and possibly affected Israel’s policies during a time of war.
