Netanyahu: Qatar is not an enemy state; Urich did not have access to classified intel

A day after he released a video accusing police of holding two of his aides “hostage” in the Qatargate investigation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posts a video stressing that Qatar is not an enemy state.

“Qatar is a complex country, not a simple country,” he says. “It’s not an enemy country, and many praise it.”

He defends Jonatan Urich, one of his top aides arrested in the investigation.

“Jonatan is a dedicated employee,” says Netanyahu. “He’s my political adviser in the Likud. He doesn’t have access to any classified intelligence material, but they say he praised Qatar.”

“Do you know who really praised Qatar?” Netanyahu asks.

He points at Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who praised Doha for their role in hostage talks after meeting a “senior Qatari official” in Paris in January.

National Unity chairman Benny Gantz also praised Qatar many times, says Netanyahu, adding that he flew to Qatar to try to sell spy software for his company Fifth Dimension before he entered politics.

Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, whom Netanyahu is working to fire, visited Qatar many times as part of hostage negotiations, and praised them, Netanyahu points out. He also claims that Bar was a guest of Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.

Netanyahu claims that police are holding Urich in order to coax him to testify against the premier.

“You know why they are doing this,” Netanyahu says. “First of all, in order to prevent the firing of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, whom the government unanimously decided to oust.”

“And, as always, to bring down a right-wing government,” he claims.

“We see you. You’re not fooling anyone.”

The joint police and Shin Bet probe was launched following revelations that Netanyahu’s former spokesman, Eli Feldstein — who has been charged with harming national security in a separate case involving the theft and leaking of classified IDF documents — worked for an international firm contracted by Qatar to feed Israeli journalists pro-Qatar stories, all while employed in the Prime Minister’s Office.

For his part, Urich is suspected of having a role in a convoluted chain of business figures and other officials involved in transferring payments from Doha to cover up their origin.