# Qatari connection affair

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The Qatari connection affair ("Qatargate") is an affair in which it was alleged, in a series of press publications, that the nearest political advisors of the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and a lieutenant colonel in the reserves, were involved in paid jobs for promoting the interests of the government of Qatar, an ally and financial supporter of Hamas.

## Events

On 10 February 2025, Ofer Hadad [he] reported on Channel 12 that the closest advisors to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Yisrael Einhorn, Ofer Golan, Jonatan Urich [he], and Eli Feldstein (who had already been arrested prior to the publication, due to his involvement in the theft and leak of classified documents, in which Qatar's name had been also mentioned) were employed by the Qatari government, for promoting the Qatari interests in the top political and security authorities of Israel, including the image change of Qatar. The journalist Nir Dvori [he] wrote that he had often received information from Feldstein which promoted the image of Qatar, but refused to publish it.
On 12 February 2025, opposition leader, Yair Lapid, and the chairman of The Democrats, Yair Golan, requested an investigation against Netanyahu and his bureau, reasoning the actions which were done in Qatar's interests during the Gaza war, as security violations and treason against Israel.
On 15 February 2025, the Shin Bet answered the questions of Mk Gilad Kariv and Mk Naama Lazimi, and said that it would investigate the revealing of the Israel state secrets. On 27 February 2025, the Attorney General of Israel instructed the Shin Bet and Police of Israel to investigate the Qatargate.

### Dismissal of the Shin Bet chief

On 13 March 2025 the former Shin Bet's chief, Nadav Argaman, told Yonit Levi on the Channel 12 news, that if he concluded that the prime minister would decide to act against the law, then he would disclose everything he knew. As a consequence, Netanyahu complained to the Israeli police against Argaman, accusing him of blackmailing him. On 16 March 2025 the police started the investigation against Argaman. An expert of the Israeli criminal law said that the maximum punishment would be seven years in prison.
The Shin Bet made a report, which stated also the responsibility of the Government of Israel for the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. On 16 March 2025 Netanyahu claimed that Ronen Bar would be dismissed in the near session of the government. Gali Baharav-Miara wrote a letter to Netanyahu and stated that the decision was not valid, due to the Shin Bet's investigation upon the Qatargate issue and the conflict of interest for Netanyahu.
On 17 March 2025 Yair Golan said that the reason of dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet was clear: the Qatargate investigation and the unwillingness to make a comprehensive hostage deal, which would end the war in Gaza. The Guardian wrote that the dismissal would further increase the accusations against the Netanyahu government for the alleged attempt to establish an authoritarian regime in Israel (authoritarianism). About sixty Israeli protest leaders, including Karine Nahon, Shikma Bressler and Moshe Radman, gathered for a meeting.