Police detain, grill 2 suspects as part of probe into Qatari payments to Netanyahu aides

By Charlie Summers 19 March 2025, 8:46 pm 2 Edit

Eli Feldstein (left), a former spokesman in the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the main suspect in an investigation, launched in late October 2024, of alleged illegal access and leaking of classified intelligence material. (Kan screenshot, used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law); Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) at a plenum session at the Knesset, Jerusalem, November 12, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Police detained and questioned two suspects under caution this evening, as part of an ongoing investigation into whether thousands of dollars were funneled from Qatar to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aides over the past few months.

The arrests are made hours after the Kan public broadcaster aired recordings in which a Gulf-based Israeli businessman admitted to transferring money from a Qatari employed lobbyist to Netanyahu aide Eli Feldstein.

Israeli businessman Gil Birger, via a private company, paid Feldstein while the latter was working as Netanyahu’s spokesman, according to Kan.

Further details regarding the investigation are barred from publication in accordance with a court-issued gag order

Channel 12 describes the detainees as “central figures,” adding that each of them gave their version of the sequence of events.