Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top aides were arrested over allegations of financial ties with Qatar.
Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein were arrested on Monday morning. Netanyahu gave an hourlong testimony as a witness, saying the Israeli police were attempting to “topple” his “right-wing government,” rhetoric likely looking to draw support from those on the international Right angry over the prosecution of other right-wing leaders.
In remarks that drew widespread outrage, the Israeli prime minister described his two arrested aides as “hostages.”
“I understood that this was a political investigation, but I did not know how much, and that they are holding Urich and Feldstein as hostages,” he said.
The accusation of Netanyahu’s office having financial ties with Qatar could serve as a major national security threat, as Israel has no ties with the country, which is also a prominent backer of Hamas.
The details of the case are sparse thanks to a gag order. Israeli media reported that the allegations include the acceptance of bribes, fraud, breach of trust, contact with a foreign agent, and money laundering.
A Qatari official speaking with the Washington Post decried the case as a “smear campaign.”
“This is not the first time we have been the subject of a smear campaign by those who do not want to see an end to this conflict or the remaining hostages returned to their families. We will continue our mediation efforts, together with the U.S. and our regional partners, and will not be distracted or deterred by those who actively seek to derail the negotiations and prolong the conflict,” the official said.
FREED ISRAELI HOSTAGE CREDITS TRUMP FOR FREEDOM: ‘I AM HERE ONLY BECAUSE OF HIM
The investigation is being handled by the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, and the Israeli police. Netanyahu said the case is a “political witch hunt that only intends to prevent the firing of the head” of the Shin Bet.
Shin Bet leader Ronen Bar was dismissed by Netanyahu’s Cabinet earlier this month, but the High Court of Justice imposed a temporary injunction on his dismissal. Netanyahu publicly blamed Bar for the intelligence failures surrounding Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack, even suggesting on Thursday that he had knowledge of the attack several hours before it happened.