Opposition leader and Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had knowledge of members of his circle receiving money to support Hamas at the opening of the Yesh Atid meeting on Monday.
"Netanyahu's people received a lot of money from Hamas supporters in Qatar in order to conduct a campaign for them that would improve their standing in the world," he said.
"This has been the perception of Netanyahu and his office all these years - that Hamas is not terrible. You can transfer them suitcases of dollars from Qatar, and at the same time, you can do business with the Qataris for your private bank account.”
He continued, saying, “Khaled Mashaal owns a shopping mall and three apartment towers there - because [PM spokesman Yonatan] Urich and [former adviser to the prime minister Srulik] Einhorn also do business with Qatar, profit from Qatar, and explain to the world that Qataris are actually good people who should host the World Cup."
Lapid challenged right-wing politicians Amsellem, Kara'i, Distel, and Yariv Levin, saying, "What would you say if you discovered my closest office advisers took Qatari money? You'd be screaming 'treason' and 'terror supporters' from the podium."
בלשכה של נתניהו, לשכת ראש ממשלת ישראל, האנשים הכי קרובים לו, קיבלו כסף מקטאר. זו היתה התפיסה של נתניהו ולשכתו כל השנים - שחמאס זה לא נורא. אפשר להעביר להם מזוודות של דולרים מקטאר, ואפשר לעשות עסקים עם הקטארים בשביל חשבון הבנק הפרטי pic.twitter.com/yNqZw4Z68l
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) November 25, 2024
Lapid demanded that Netanyahu answer whether he knew and approved his closest advisers receiving Qatari money or if he was again unaware of activities around him.
No response
The Prime Minister's Office has not responded to Lapid's accusation.