Qatargate is the term colloquially assigned to a scandal alleging funds from Qatar were transferred to several staffers in Israel's Prime Minister's Office.
The Qatargate affair is based on an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aides. The aides were allegedly involved in a scandal in which they were paid by Qatar while managing hostage negotiations with Hamas.
The accusations are believed by many to have played a factor in the ongoing dispute with Netanyahu and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Ronen Bar and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara.
Jonathan Urich is expected to be released to house arrest tomorrow, and the investigation of the two will continue. Communications adviser Israel Einhorn is also wanted for questioning.
"Above all, we identify a special operations officer in the Prime Minister's Office, who brings into the Holy of Holies, a person without security clearance who is operated by the Qataris."
The prime minister maintained that his decision to remove Bar was not related to "Qatargate" and did not align with his timeline.
A violation of the law—should it be passed—is expected to carry a penalty of up to ten years in prison.
"Qatar is the main engine behind Hamas. The Prime Minister's advisors worked for it, not for us. And all of this happened during a war in which our children are fighting," Bennett wrote.
Klein was questioned about the “Qatargate” affair, which alleges connections between Qatar and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Former Shin Bet senior official Ilan Segev also expressed concern over the dangers of appointing an acting head of Shin Bet.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: For now, Israel’s institutions are holding the line. But how long they can continue to do so under such relentless pressure remains an open question.
The police requested to extend their detention by seven days, but Judge Menahem Mizrahi ordered the two to house arrest until April 22.
Qatar said, "These allegations are baseless and serve only the agendas of those who seek to sabotage the mediation efforts and undermine relations between nations."
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