Thread by @AnshelPfeffer

Now that a judge has extended by 48 hours the arrest of Yonatan Urich (Netanyahu’s spin-doctor for the past decade) and Eli Feldstein (Netanyahu’s spokesperson for military affairs) the full contours of the #Qatargate investigation can be reported. Bear with me, this is long >

On October 7 Netanyahu began fighting his personal war for political survival, blaming the security chiefs for all that had happened. Urich hired Feldstein, as military affairs spokesperson, a role that never existed before in the PM’s office, as part of the Save Bibi campaign >

Feldstein had been a junior officer in the IDF Spokesperson Unit and then worked as Itamar Ben-Gvir’s spokesperson. He failed the security vetting necessary to work in the PM’s office. He was employed there nevertheless. But it meant that he couldn’t be paid by the government >

To pay Feldstein for his work for Netanyahu, Urich allegedly arranged for an American lobbyist working for the Qatari government to pay him 40K shekel a month. Urich who is currently employed by Likud (though working for Netanyahu) is partner in a PR firm also working for Qatar >

Urich and Feldstein are suspected of having briefed journalists with pro-Qatari messages in the name of a “senior diplomatic source”, a euphemism in Israel for the PM and of leaking classified information from cabinet meetings (all this at wartime when Qatar is Hamas’ patron) >

2 other suspects have been questioned under caution over their involvement in the Qatari influence-peddling - a businessman and a senior journalist. They are under house arrest and their names cannot be revealed at present. Netanyahu was questioned yesterday, not under caution >

Feldstein is also one of the main suspects in another investigation. He allegedly leaked to foreign media classified documents making the case against Israel withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor, serving Netanyahu who was under pressure from the far-right not to withdraw >

Feldstein is not just the alleged leaker of classified documents, but is also suspected of being the conduit for classified information coming from unauthorized sources in the IDF, bypassing the military hierarchy, on Netanyahu’s behalf (unclear if Netanyahu knew in advance) >

Urich and Feldstein are currently suspected of contact with a foreign agent, disclosing classified information, money-laundering, fraud and breach of trust by a public servant. But this goes way beyond the possible criminal charges. Urich is one of Netanyahu’s closest aides >

One of the most serious criticisms of Netanyahu’s policy leading to Oct 7 was his support for transferring Qatari funds to Hamas in Gaza, financing Hamas’ military wing. Urich, his veteran spin-doctor was moonlighting for Qatar at least since 2022 and hired Feldstein after Oct7 >

Whether or not Netanyahu knew that while Qatar was financing Hamas (with his support), harboring its leaders in Doha and acting as mediators in hostage talks, his aides were Qatar’s paid agents of influence in his office, with access to classified intel, has yet to be revealed >

So far Netanyahu’s response to the suspicions his closest aides were working for Qatar has been to rail against the “deep-state”, call this a “political investigation” and try to fire the chief of Shin Bet and Attorney-General who are directing the investigation. END