Left-wing party head welcomes Shin Bet probe of Netanyahu aides, demands probe of PM

The Democrats party chairman, Yair Golan, welcomes the Shin Bet security service’s announcement that it will investigate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s former spokesman Eli Feldstein and possibly others for alleged ties to Qatar.

The decision to open a probe into the matter follows a demand by the left-wing party and “is a necessary step in a serious case involving apparent suspicion of treason,” Golan tweets following after the agency confirms the investigation in a letter to party MK Gilad Kariv.

“It is not possible for people who have financial interests with a foreign country to be involved in managing matters critical to Israel’s national security,” Golan insists, calling for everybody involved in the matter to be removed from government service “immediately.”

“The Shin Bet must thoroughly investigate not only the prime minister’s associates, but also the prime minister himself: Was he aware of these connections? Did he approve of them? And perhaps even worse — did he himself receive funds, directly or indirectly? This investigation must not be allowed to be hidden or scuttled. This is about Israel’s security and the lives of the hostages,” he states.

Golan asserts that, under the circumstances, Netanyahu “cannot fire the head of the Shin Bet or demand his dismissal” and “must not be allowed to exploit his power to sabotage the investigation process.”

According to a report last week by Channel 12 news, Feldstein, a former military spokesman for the prime minister, was employed by a Qatar-funded company to improve public perception of Doha surrounding the Gulf country’s role in mediating a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.

Following the report and other subsequent reports of additional details, Golan demanded an investigation, telling reporters that “there is a suspicion of treason in the Prime Minister’s Office.”