Second businessman questioned in Qatargate probe identified as David Saig

The second businessman questioned under caution in the Qatargate investigation is revealed to be David Saig, after a court gag order on publishing his name was lifted this evening.

Saig is an Israeli citizen involved in consultancy work including in Gulf states, and previously worked in one of Israel’s security agencies, according to Haaretz.

An attorney for Saig says after he was released following his interrogation that the businessman is “a law abiding citizen” who “has no connection to the suspicions being investigated in the affair.”

Gil Birger, another Israeli businessman, was also investigated last week over his role in having transferred money to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military spokesperson Eli Feldstein for work Feldstein did for pro-Qatar lobbyist Jay Footlik to improve Doha’s image in Israel.

Feldstein was released to house arrest on Friday after being arrested on March 31 for his alleged involvement in the affair, while an appeals court ruled that Jonatan Urich, another aide to Netanyahu and key suspect in the scandal who was arrested at the same time as Feldstein, be kept in detention until Monday.