Opposition leader Yair Lapid has called on Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to investigate alleged ties between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest advisers and Qatar, The Jerusalem Post reports.
This demand was made following a journalistic investigation by Israel’s Channel 12, according to which the Prime Minister’s advisor, Eli Feldstein, provided PR services to Qatar while working in the Prime Minister’s Office.
“It’s hard to imagine that instead of protecting Israel’s image in the world, they made money by promoting the interests of Qatar, a country that supports terrorism,” Lapid wrote in an appeal to the prosecutor.
Possible conflict of interest
Feldstein, who is currently under house arrest for leaking classified documents to a German newspaper, worked for an international company funded by Qatar. According to journalists, this company promoted a positive image of Qatar in Israel, in particular as an intermediary in the release of hostages.
The scandal gained even greater prominence when it emerged that two other members of the prime minister’s media group, Jonathan Urich and Srulik Einhorn, also provided PR services to Qatar ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Political and security implications
“These shocking revelations cannot be ignored. The prime minister’s closest advisers received money from Qatari companies, a country that funds Hamas and is a base for radical groups,” said MK Yair Golan.
He also added that the Israeli public has a right to know whether financial ties with Qatar influence key national decisions, including the release of hostages and the future of Gaza.
Demand for a transparent investigation
The Public Movement for Good Governance in Israel also appealed to the head of the Shabak (Israeli Security Service) to investigate possible links between Netanyahu’s entourage and Qatari structures.
“Every financial trail, every contract, every meeting – everything must be investigated to the last dollar,” Golan said.
The scandal raises serious concerns about a possible conflict of interest at the highest level of government, which could affect Israel’s security policy and its relations with international partners.
