For years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has been tried for corruption, even if the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria supervises.
It is now blocked in a separate stall situation with the contrast authorities of Israel, a police investigation that has renewed opposition requests for its resignation.
Known as “qatargate”, the case depends on the affirmation that the media consultants of Netanyahu were paid by a Qatar representative to promote the interests of Qatar in the Israeli media. This statement made many Israelis angry because he created the perception of a conflict of interest; For years, Qatar has hosted Hamas leaders.
The recent efforts of Mr. Netanyahu to fire the head of the Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security agency, has aggravated the fury. It was the bet Shin who first instigated the investigations on the helpers of Mr. Netanyahu.
Mr. Netanyahu rejected the case as a “political hunting” times “times to overthrow it from power. The Qatar government declared in a declaration that the accusations were without foundation.
What are the accusations?
According to the courts of the court, the police officers are investigating that Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, two helpers of Mr. Netanyahu, have tried to promote a favorable image of Qatar in the Israeli media. They are said to have worked alongside a third person who is not appointed in the registers.
Both Egypt and Qatar have mediated between Hamas and Israel since the end of 2023, but have not always worked with lock. The courts of the Court affirm that three men are suspected of trying to encourage the idea that Qatar has played a more important role than Egypt in diplomatic efforts to ensure a ceased to cease to hold in the Gaza strip.
The Qatar government denied this statement in its declaration, praising the “fundamental role” of Egypt and saying that the countries were “working closely”.
Mr. Urich and Mr. Feldstein were arrested on Monday and a judge extended their detention of three days on Tuesday. Lawyers for both men refused to comment.
Who are the consultants?
Urich is a former media officer for Israeli military who has become one of Netanyahu’s most trusted strategists. He helped to make the prime minister’s communication strategy through several recent elections. In his autobiography, Mr. Netanyahu described him as a “type of family”.
In addition to his government work, Urich also works for the perception, a public relations company owned by another consultant sometimes by the Prime Minister, Srlik Einhorn. A comment asked, Mr. Einhorn said that perception had never worked for Qatar.
Feldstein is also a former military press officer and has started working as a connection between military correspondents and the prime minister’s office at the beginning of the war. He was arrested in a separated case last autumn, with suspicion of leaching information classified in a foreign newspaper.
What is the role of Qatar?
The court documents do not suggest that Qatar has worked directly with Netanyahu helpers.
Instead, the registers say that the assistants were directed by Thirdcer them, a group of lobbying based in the United States that represents Qatar in various countries, including the United States. The registers of the Court show that Thirdncer them paid for Mr. Feldstein through an Israeli intermediary. The registers do not clarify if or like Mr. Urich has been compensated.
Jay Footlik, founder of Thirdcircle and former helper of President Bill Clinton, refused to comment.
The declaration of Qatar government states that the accusations “only serve the agendas of those who try to sabotage mediation efforts and undermining relationships between nations”.
How is Mr. Netanyahu involved?
The prime minister is not a suspicion in case, but was questioned by the police officers for more than an hour on Monday evening.
To make that meeting, Mr. Netanyahu was forced to start soon from his separate corruption process. In this case, he is accused of granting regulatory favors to businessmen and media managers in exchange for bribes and positive coverage. Denies those accusations.
What is the role of the Shin Bet?
The domestic intelligence agency of Israel, The Shin Bet, was strictly involved in investigations on the helpers.
When Mr. Netanyahu tried last month to fire the director of the agency, Ronen Bar, fueled the accusations of punishing Mr. Bar for pursuing the cases.
Mr. Netanyahu denied the complaint. He said that Mr. Bar was fired due to a breakdown of trust between the two men and caused the shin of the Stinco in the hours preceding the attack of Hamas to Israel in October 2023.
Why did the case touch a nerve?
For years, Qatar has hosted Hamas senior members. Since 2018, Qatar has also sent more than $ 1 billion to civilians in Gaza.
US officials silently supported the first agreement and the Israeli government has requested the second directly. However, Netanyahu’s opponents are furious that officials aware of the Israeli state secrets can simultaneously represent a country that works thus in close contact with an Israeli enemy.
Mr. Netanyahu’s clash with Shin Bet also created the perception of a conflict of interest. More generally, the case has amplified the criticisms that it is fighting too many personal battles to govern effectively. And he aggravated the fear that the wider effort of Netanyahu to review the judiciary is rooted in the personal complaint.
Myra Noveck Reports contributed by Jerusalem e Gabby Sobelman From Rehovot, Israel.