Netanyahu accuses Israel police of carrying out a political witch hunt in Qatargate

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accusing the Israeli police of attempting to “topple” his government in what he believes is a “political witch hunt.” In a video statement released on Monday, Netanyahu claimed that the police had no evidence against two aides who were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial ties between his office and Qatar.

Netanyahu was summoned on Monday to testify in the investigation. He claimed that he was questioned for an hour before demanding to see evidence, but found nothing incriminating. The prime minister named his aides, Eli Feldstein and Yonatan Urich, who were allegedly arrested in connection with the probe. Feldstein, a former member of Netanyahu’s team, is suspected of passing messages to journalists on behalf of Qatar while working in the prime minister’s office.

The messages allegedly pertained to Qatar’s involvement in negotiating the return of Israeli hostages, among other things. Charges against Feldstein and Urich have not been officially released due to a gag order on the case, but Israeli media reports suggest they are being accused of contact with a foreign agent, bribery, and fraud.

The Jerusalem Post’s editor-in-chief, Zivka Klein, was also questioned by police in connection with the Qatar probe. Klein denied having a connection with Feldstein after reports surfaced that he arranged a trip to Qatar for the journalist.

Netanyahu claims that the investigation, dubbed “Qatargate,” is an attempt to prevent him from firing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who heads the Israeli equivalent of the FBI. Last month, Netanyahu announced his intention to remove Bar over alleged “ongoing distrust.” However, some believe this move is related to the Shin Bet’s assessment of an incident on Oct. 7, which pointed to government policy led by Netanyahu in the years leading up to the event.

Bar criticized Netanyahu’s expectation of personal loyalty, calling it “fundamentally illegitimate.” The Israeli High Court froze Bar’s removal scheduled for April 8, but allowed Netanyahu to interview potential replacements. Netanyahu’s office announced that Vice Adm. Eli Sharvit, a former Israeli Navy commander, has been chosen to replace Bar.

Sharvit served in the IDF for 36 years, including five years as commander of the Israel Navy. Netanyahu’s office highlighted his experience in leading maritime defense operations against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.

The ongoing conflicts between Netanyahu, the Israeli police, and the Shin Bet chief highlight the political tensions within Israel. The outcome of the investigation and the potential fallout for Netanyahu’s government remain uncertain. Stay tuned for further developments as the situation continues to unfold.