**Israeli Prosecutors Consider Charges Against Netanyahu Aides in Qatargate Affair**
Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is reportedly preparing to decide whether to file charges against two close aides of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with alleged lobbying activities on behalf of Qatar. This development comes amid ongoing scrutiny stemming from the so-called Qatargate affair, which first gained public attention early last year.
The controversy began when Israeli Channel 12 aired an investigative report suggesting that Netanyahu's closest advisors were compensated by the Qatari government to advocate for its interests among Israel's top security and political figures. The investigation implicated several individuals, including Yisrael Einhorn, Ofer Golan, Jonatan Urich, and Eli Feldstein. Feldstein has already been arrested for his alleged involvement in the theft and dissemination of classified documents prior to the report's release.
Both Urich and Feldstein were detained and questioned in March regarding their connections to the allegations. Einhorn, who currently resides in Serbia, has not returned to Israel to face questioning, while Golan, who served as a spokesperson for Netanyahu, maintained his position until April of this year.
As the Attorney General approaches a decision, reports from Israeli media indicate that unnamed officials within the Justice Ministry believe there is "sufficient evidence" to proceed with charges against Urich and Feldstein. However, assessments from the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies regarding the affair have yet to be submitted.
In a related development, Urich was indicted in June for allegedly leaking classified military intelligence to the press. This indictment pertains to a leak of materials to the German tabloid Bild in September 2024, which reportedly aimed to bolster Netanyahu's narrative that Hamas, rather than his administration, was responsible for delays in negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
The implications of the Qatargate affair extend beyond Netanyahu's aides, with media reports suggesting that Mossad director Roman Gofman could also be affected. Gofman, who was appointed to lead the agency in June, previously served as Netanyahu's military secretary and may face a conflict of interest due to his close ties with the implicated officials. Justice Ministry officials are currently considering whether Gofman should be excluded from signing off on the assessment from his agency regarding the investigation.
The Qatargate affair has further complicated Netanyahu's political landscape, as he has been grappling with various corruption allegations for over a decade. Reports suggest that the connections between his aides and the Qatari government have been longstanding, with allegations that they assisted Doha in regaining its position in the Gulf during the diplomatic crisis from 2017 to 2021, as well as in enhancing its reputation ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
As the Attorney General prepares to make a decision, the political ramifications of the Qatargate affair continue to unfold, potentially impacting Netanyahu's administration and its ongoing challenges.