QatarGate Heats Up: Netanyahu Allies Face Off (Again) in Explosive Police Interrogation

Israeli police investigators held another confrontation on Sunday between political operatives Eli Feldstein and Yonatan Urich, both of whom are suspected of involvement in the widening QatarGate affair. This is the second time the two were brought face-to-face, following an intense previous session just last week.

The questioning focused on alleged links to Qatari government interests, said to have been funneled through Israeli PR consultant Srulik Einhorn and American-Jewish lobbyist J. Pottlick, who reportedly worked for Qatar in recent years.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, Sunday’s confrontation lasted approximately eight minutes, during which the two suspects were repeatedly asked about their ties to Pottlick and Einhorn.

Investigators are exploring a new line of inquiry that may deepen suspicions against Urich and connect him more directly to the alleged foreign influence scheme.

At the end of the interrogation, Feldstein was returned to his home under house arrest, while Urich was taken back to his detention cell. He is scheduled for further questioning on Monday, after which police will decide whether to comply with a court order for his release—issued last Friday—or to seek another detention extension, which would require presenting new evidence of potential obstruction of justice.

The previous confrontation between Feldstein and Urich revealed differing narratives. Feldstein maintained he was unaware that the payment he received had originated from Qatari sources. The two men were questioned for nearly 11 hours, as were businessman Gil Birger and journalist Tzvika Klein, who are also suspects in the case. Police also staged a confrontation between Feldstein and Birger.

Authorities suspect that Qatar sought to enhance its image among the Israeli public by positioning itself as a key mediator in hostage negotiations—at the expense of Egypt's standing. As part of this strategy, Qatari officials allegedly hired Israeli consultants to craft favorable messaging. Police believe the connection to Feldstein and Urich was established through J. Pottlick and Israel Einhorn, the latter of whom currently resides in Serbia and has refused to appear for questioning.

During a court session over the weekend, the judge reviewed confidential police materials and stated his assessment that neither Einhorn nor Pottlick are expected to be interrogated anytime soon, if at all. This assessment is likely to factor into Monday’s decision regarding whether to extend the detentions of Feldstein and Urich.