The Israeli premier provoked backlash from across the political spectrum when he referred to the pair as ‘hostages’ in his statement on the case
April 1, 2025 11:31
A pair of top aides to Benjamin Netanyahu have been arrested in connection with the so-called “Qatargate” investigation into the Israeli Prime Minister’s connections to the emirate.
Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein were detained for questioning on Monday in connection with the alleged transfer of funds between Qatar and the Prime Minister’s Office.
The case is part of a investigation into claims in the Hebrew media that some of the closes advisors to Netanyahu were paid to promote the interests of the Qatari government, despite the Gulf state being an alleged financial backer of Hamas.
Israeli Police told the Rishon Letzion Magistrates’ court that Urich is suspected of passing secret information to a foreign agent, reported by Ynet to be a Qatari lobbyist. He and Feldstein are also accused of bribery, fraud, contacting a foreign agent and money laundering.
Authorities have since lodged a request to extend the duo’s detention for nine days so they can continue with their interrogations.
The arrests follow a report from public broadcaster Kan, which published a recording of Gil Birger, an Israeli businessman, in which he appeared to admit serving as a financial channel between Qatar and Feldstein, which he claimed was for tax purposes.
Feldstein’s lawyers say that this money was transferred in payment for services provided to the Prime Minister’s Office and not from Qatar, saying: “This was a temporary and partial solution by officials in the Prime Minister's Office to the difficulty that arose in paying Feldstein's salary from the PMO’s coffers, without any impact on the identity of the recipient of the service, the Prime Minister.
"To the extent that there is a connection between the businessman in question and other parties, including Qatar, this was not presented to Feldstein and was not known to him.”
However, the hearings did see the Prime Minister himself summoned to court by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, with whom he is locked in a public row over his attempt to dismiss her from her post, to testify in the case.
Netanyahu was also questioned in his office by Israel Police Deputy Commissioner Shlomo Meshulam, though this was not done under caution.
In a frank response to the allegations against Urich and Feldman, Netanyahu accused the police and Shin Bet of participating in a “witch hunt” against his government.
Labelling the case a “political investigation”, he said: “The police said it would take four hours. After an hour, they finished with the questions.
"I said, 'Show me material, show me something,' but they had nothing to show.
"This is a political witch-hunt aimed solely at one thing—preventing the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet and bringing about the downfall of a right-wing prime minister.”
Significantly, though, he also referred to the pair as “hostages”, prompting accusations that he was displaying insensitivity to the plight of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
The remarks earned him rebuke from both the left and right. Avigdor Liberman of the rightist Israel Beytenu party said his comments show he is “totally disconnected” from the Israeli public. The centrist Benny Gantz of the National Unity party declared: “Prime Minister: while you’re making time for investigations, 59 hostages are counting the seconds. Our hostages, kidnapped on your watch, aren’t aides questioned for one day over wartime ties to Qatar – they’re people rotting in enemy tunnels for 542 days.”