From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 31, 2025
Liberman: PM’s ‘wave of spin’ amid Qatargate, firing of Bar is designed to distract Israelis
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The “wave of spin” surrounding the so-called Qatargate scandal and the replacement of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar “is designed to obscure the true priorities of the State of Israel,” Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman tells reporters ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.
Calling the latest developments in the scandal “a media earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale,” Liberman says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spin is meant to distract Israelis from three main national priorities: the return of the hostages, the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into October 7 and the passage of a universal conscription law.
“We must not forget what the priorities are,” Liberman says. “These three issues are critical to the security of the state and our civil resilience. And unfortunately, they are being pushed out of the public discourse. I call on my friends in the opposition not to forget the correct priorities. The Knesset is going into recess, but these three issues are still on the table – unresolved and unanswered. I hope that members of the coalition will also come to their senses and understand: Beyond the spins and headlines, there is a complex reality.”
The Times of Israel Community.