Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a new scandal, known as Qatargate, which has gained momentum this week. The international criminal court announced it was seeking his arrest for alleged war crimes in the conflict in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s aides, Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, are suspected of taking money from Qatar to promote a positive image of the Gulf state in their briefings to journalists. Lawyers for both men have declined to comment on the allegations. The aim was believed to be improving Qatar’s standing among Israelis and with the US while spreading negative messages about Egypt.
The scandal has deeply shocked the Israeli public because Qatar is widely viewed as a patron of Hamas, hosting leaders of the Palestinian militant group in Doha. Israel banned the Qatari state-funded media network Al Jazeera last year due to its critical coverage of Israeli actions in the conflict.
Netanyahu denies the allegations, calling the investigation a “political witch hunt.” However, if substantiated, the scandal could raise serious questions about how a foreign power seen as an enemy state was able to infiltrate the highest levels of the Israeli government.
The case has further complicated Netanyahu’s handling of an overlapping scandal – his decision to hold a cabinet vote on firing the director of the Shin Bet, or general security service. The move was suspended by the supreme court, which is set to consider the case on April 8.
As the Qatargate scandal widens, Netanyahu faces a constitutional crisis if the supreme court overrides the cabinet’s decision in favor of the Shin Bet director’s dismissal. With his reputation at stake, Netanyahu must navigate the complex web of alliances and rivalries within his party and with the judiciary to maintain his grip on power.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/06/is-qatargate-a-scandal-too-far-even-for-benjamin-netanyahu