Qatar-gate heats up: Netanyahu was suddenly summoned for immediate questioning; Likud lashes out

The testimony of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded today (Monday) earlier than expected at the request of his defense team. The decision to end the hearing likely came following a request to summon the PM to testify in the Qatar-gate affair and he is now on his way to provide open testimony to the police. Netanyahu will not necessarily appear at Lahav 433’s offices; it’s possible he will be questioned at his residence or office. The police, in coordination with the Attorney General, will determine the location and timing of his open testimony.

Earlier, developments in the investigation of the affair led to the arrest of Netanyahu’s advisers, Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein. In light of these developments, Netanyahu’s attorney, Amit Haddad, who also represents Urich in the Qatar-gate affair, left the fortified courtroom at the Tel Aviv District Court, where Netanyahu’s criminal trial in the “Thousands Cases” was ongoing at the time. Netanyahu’s defense team approached the panel of judges with a request to update them on the continuation of the testimony day and asked to shorten it; the court, as noted, granted the request.

Urich and Feldstein were previously questioned under caution, but following their arrests, the police can now request an extension of their detention—a third suspect involved in the affair, whose name is under a gag order, is currently being questioned.

Feldstein was previously arrested and is currently under house arrest with an ankle monitor, while Urich had not been arrested in this affair prior to this. The two suspects were arrested at their homes. The offenses being investigated in the Qatar-gate affair include contact with a foreign agent, money laundering, bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Alongside the three suspects, a journalist is currently providing open testimony to the police and was questioned about Qatari messages allegedly relayed through Feldstein.

The Likud responds:

"The aggressive arrest of Yonatan Urich is a new low in the political campaign to bring down a right-wing prime minister and stop the firing of the ineffective Shin Bet chief.

After the fake investigations started by the State Attorney’s Office and the Shin Bet head (about forged records in the Prime Minister’s Office and the blackmail of an officer in the Prime Minister’s military staff) fell apart, they came up with another made-up story about Qatar, which will also unravel soon.

Trying to scare Yonatan Urich into giving false testimony against the Prime Minister by threatening him, intimidating him, and arresting him without cause is just another illegal move by a desperate legal group.

For weeks, the State Attorney’s Office and the Shin Bet chief have been running pointless investigations in secret under a gag order, all to try to save the Shin Bet chief’s job while using Urich and others as pawns. Their aim is to overthrow the government with arrest orders.

This isn’t an investigation. This isn’t about enforcing the law. It’s an attack on democracy and an attempt to override the people’s choice with a government run by officials."

Walla contributed to this article.