Top Netanyahu aides arrested as probe into Qatargate intensifies
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One of the two aides arrested in the QatarGate probe was previously involved in a leak of sensitive Israeli documents on the captive negotiations with Hamas.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 (AP)
Several of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's top aides were arrested on Monday, as allegations of financial ties between the Israeli Prime Minister and Qatar continue to escalate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was suddenly called away from his ongoing corruption trial to testify in a separate case on Monday afternoon, following the arrest of two of his aides, Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein.
In a video statement released after what he described as an hour of testimony, Netanyahu accused Israeli police of attempting to "overthrow" his right-wing government, adding that the police had no evidence against the advisors.
Feldstein, a former military spokesperson for Netanyahu, is suspected of managing public relations for Qatar while serving in the prime minister’s office, though Qatar has previously denied the allegations. He was also arrested last year on charges of leaking stolen classified intelligence to foreign news outlets before being later released.
The details of the Qatar case, which is being handled by the Shin Bet and the "national" crimes unit of the Israeli police, remain under a court gag order, and the charges against the aides have not been made public. Israeli media reports indicate that the case includes accusations of contact with a foreign agent, as well as allegations of bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to brief the media, stated that the prime minister appeared as a witness—not a suspect—in Monday's testimony related to the case involving Urich and Feldstein, according to AFP.
The 'Qatargate' probe
The Kan public broadcaster reported Saturday that the police Qatargate probe is investigating the transfer of funds between multiple entities since May 2022, potentially earlier.
As mentioned in the report, on March 18, it was revealed that Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein were the two suspects briefly detained for questioning on Wednesday in the ongoing police-Shin Bet "Qatargate" investigation.
They face charges of contacting a foreign agent, fraud, money laundering, and bribery. A court-issued gag order, effective until April 10 has restricted further details from being published.
According to the report, the investigation into "Qatargate" was sparked by revelations that Feldstein worked for Qatar through an international firm contracted to provide pro-Qatar content to Israeli journalists during his tenure in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Furthermore, Kan TV released recordings of businessman Gil Birger claiming he funneled funds from a Qatari lobbyist to Feldstein.
Prosecutors have accused Feldstein of leaking a document to sway public opinion, which had turned against Netanyahu following the death of six Israeli captives in August.
Moreover, a Channel 13 report earlier this month claimed that hundreds of thousands of dollars were funneled from Qatar to Netanyahu's aides, including through intermediaries such as one owned by Urich, who denied working for Qatar. Investigators were reportedly shocked by the volume of money transferred.
