Suspected: Qatari money flowed to associates of Prime Minister Netanyahu for years

Israeli police suspect that Qatari money was transferred to the bank accounts of individuals close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a period of several years. A report aired this evening (Saturday) on the Shabbat News program on Kan 11 revealed that the “Qatargate” investigation focuses on a money transfer route that began in May 2022—and possibly even earlier—and involved several intermediaries and companies. Police are currently exploring the possibility of questioning Srulik Einhorn abroad in connection with the case.

According to the suspicion, the funds were transferred for at least two and a half years, with the main investigative focus on the period between May 2022 and October 2024. The fact that some of the individuals involved, including Einhorn, are currently outside Israel complicates the investigation. Therefore, the police and the State Attorney’s Office are currently discussing how to move forward, possibly via a legal assistance procedure that would allow police investigations to be conducted outside of Israel.

Yesterday, Jonathan Urich, a close adviser to Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Eli Feldstein, his former security affairs adviser, were detained for questioning prompted by recordings that suggest that Feldstein received money from Qatar via Israeli businessman Gil Birger. Police believe these recordings constitute new evidence that required immediate questioning of suspects to prevent potential obstruction of the investigation.