Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office is under scrutiny after police arrested two of his close associates on suspicion of accepting money from Qatar to promote a positive image of the Gulf Arab state in Israel.
The investigation, dubbed “Qatargate,” centers on accusations that Netanyahu’s media consultant Jonatan Urich and former spokesman Eli Feldstein were hired to run a public-relations campaign to improve Qatar’s image among Israelis while it was negotiating with Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza. Payments were allegedly funneled through an American lobbyist.
Netanyahu is not a suspect in the case, which he says is baseless and meant to topple his rule. However, critics say that the allegations raise concerns about Netanyahu’s handling of Qatar’s influence in Israel, particularly given its ties to Hamas.
The affair has sparked criticism from Israeli politicians, with some accusing Netanyahu of undermining state institutions, including the judiciary and domestic security agency. The probe is just the latest scandal to roil Netanyahu, who is currently facing a long-running corruption trial.
Critics point out that Netanyahu’s attempt to dismiss the head of Israel’s domestic security agency, which is also investigating his office’s alleged links to Qatar, has raised suspicions about his motives. “It’s an abuse of the office,” said Tomer Naor, of the Movement of Quality Government in Israel. “What’s particularly worrying is how easily outside actors appear to have gained access to the prime minister’s inner circle.”
Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and accused police of holding his advisers as “hostages.” However, if the allegations are substantiated, they could further erode public trust in Netanyahu’s leadership.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/netanyahu-qatar-gaza-hamas-israel-scandal-da79eb436a150d82d03e352085b02bfc