Qatar's genius: How it secretly infiltrated Israel's inner circle

Beneath the surface of its role as a diplomatic mediator, Qatar has emerged as a cunning manipulator of Israel’s political and security landscape, exploiting vulnerabilities in the Jewish state’s highest echelons of power. The unfolding "Qatargate" scandal, a term coined by Israeli media, has exposed a sophisticated intelligence operation allegedly orchestrated by Doha, penetrating the Prime Minister’s Office and leveraging Israeli aides, journalists, and systemic weaknesses to advance Qatari interests. Far from a neutral broker in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Qatar’s actions reveal a calculated strategy to influence Israeli policy, undermine regional rivals like Egypt, and bolster its own image, all while funding Hamas with Israel’s tacit approval.

At the heart of Qatargate lie the arrests of two of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest aides, Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, just last week. The duo faces charges of contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering, accused of accepting Qatari payments to promote Doha’s narrative in Israeli media. According to court documents, their handler was Jay Footlik, a U.S. lobbyist for Qatar, whose firm, Third Circle, funneled funds, sometimes via Israeli businessman Gil Birger, to push pro-Qatar stories while downplaying Egypt’s mediation role in hostage talks with Hamas. Feldstein, a former military spokesperson for Netanyahu, allegedly arranged trips for journalists like Jerusalem Post editor Zvika Klein to Doha, resulting in favorable coverage, while Urich fed messaging to the press disguised as official Israeli statements. Dvir Kariv, a former Shin Bet officer, marveled at Qatar’s “brilliant intelligence exercise,” noting how it exploited weak points, money, ego, and lax security vetting, within Netanyahu’s inner circle.

That being said, it's important to note that Feldstein was indeed vetted by the Shin Bet and failed their vetting. Apparently, Urich decided that he should be allowed to work in Netanyahu's office notwithstanding. The question then arose of how to pay him- because he was not officially employed by the Prime Minister's Office, he

Qatar’s exploitation isn’t new. Since 2018, it has sent cash to Gaza, hundreds of millions of dollars annually, under a bizzare Israeli-approved arrangement Netanyahu championed to maintain a fragile status quo and divide Palestinian factions. Critics, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, argue this policy backfired spectacularly, with funds strengthening Hamas’ military wing ahead of its October 7 attack.

Yet, Qatargate reveals a deeper layer: while publicly mediating ceasefire talks, Qatar was allegedly buying influence in Jerusalem. Posts on X and reports from Haaretz suggest this dual game, funding Hamas while cozying up to Israeli officials, dates back years, with aides like Urich reportedly aiding Qatar’s PR blitz before the 2022 World Cup.

The scandal has ignited a firestorm in Israel, amplifying accusations of betrayal and security lapses. Kariv warned of a “constitutional crisis” if Netanyahu, not yet a suspect but questioned as a witness, dodges accountability or succeeds in ousting Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who oversees the probe. Netanyahu’s Likud party calls it a “political witch hunt” by a “deep state,” but the opposition sees treason, Lapid dubbed it “the most outrageous and dangerous” affair tied to the PM’s office.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s intelligence prowess shines through: exploiting Israel’s chaotic wartime staffing (Feldstein lacked clearance) and economic pressures (conglomerates shield high grocery costs), it found fertile ground to sow influence.

For Israelis, Qatargate should be much more than just a scandal. It should be a serious wake-up call. A nation priding itself on security acumen was outmaneuvered by a Gulf state with no formal ties, one that plays both sides of the conflict. As the Shin Bet and police dig deeper, the real question is how much damage has Qatar’s quiet exploitation already inflicted on Israel’s sovereignty and safety?

Maariv and JPost contributed to this article.