Netanyahu sues Democrats chair Yair Golan for defamation over comments on Qatargate scandal

By Sam Sokol 12 May 2025, 4:26 pm

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Sam 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"

Leader of the Democrats party Yair Golan waves what he says is a defamation suit filed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 12, 2025 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu serves Democrats chairman Yair Golan with a defamation suit over messages he sent to supporters accusing the premier of peddling the country’s security for money in the so-called Qatargate scandal.

“This morning, a messenger from Netanyahu, who received a permit to enter the Knesset, was waiting for me here with a lawsuit. Netanyahu is suing me because I said he must be investigated for his connection to the Qatari money. I am happy about the lawsuit,” Golan tells reporters ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.

Golan says that a defamation trial would provide “an excellent opportunity to put Netanyahu on the witness stand” and ask him why he didn’t fire senior aide Jonatan Urich, a key suspect in the ongoing Qatargate probe, after his alleged role in the scandal came to light.

“Why didn’t you fire Urich? What are you afraid of? What are you hiding?” Golan asks.

Urich is suspected of multiple offenses tied to his alleged work for a pro-Qatar lobbying firm, including contact with a foreign agent and a series of corruption charges involving lobbyists and businessmen.

“Why did you personally approach Qatar in 2018 with a request to fund Hamas in complete contradiction to the position of the defense establishment,” Golan asks of Netanyahu.

“Why did you continue to demand the transfer of the suitcases of dollars to Hamas, even after being warned that this was direct funding for terrorism? Why did you prevent the elimination of Sinwar several times, and is this related to your or your associates’ ties with Qatar?”

According to the Ynet news site, Netanyahu filed the suit against Golan in early April, charging that he sent messages containing “false and ugly content” and “fake news, unbridled incitement, and slander” to supporters in order to solicit donations.

Netanyahu is reportedly demanding financial compensation of NIS 320,000 ($86,400) and an order instructing Golan to “refrain from spreading defamation.”