Crime

By Pesach Benson • January 4, 2026

Jerusalem, 4 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israeli police investigation into the so-called “Qatargate” scandal, involving suspected Qatari influence over figures close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was officially handed over to the attorney general’s Office on Sunday, marking a key procedural milestone in the case.

“The investigation has been passed to the prosecutor’s office for consideration,” police told the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court in a filing submitted earlier that day. Prosecutors will now determine whether the evidence warrants indictments, requires additional investigative steps, or could lead to the closure of the case.

Alongside the handover, police requested a 60-day extension of the restrictions placed on Yonatan Urich, a former top aide to Netanyahu. These measures, originally imposed several months ago, bar Urich from working in the Prime Minister’s Office, prohibit him from contacting anyone connected to the case — including other government officials — and require him to report to police upon request. Urich is suspected of contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering in connection with the ongoing probe.

The court has yet to rule on the extension. Judge Menachem Mizrahi criticized the police for submitting the request only hours before the previous restrictions were set to expire, noting that “the timing made it impossible to rule properly on the matter.” He instructed the parties to submit additional arguments, including whether the police were authorized to request the extension and whether prosecutorial approval was necessary. The judge emphasized that he was not ruling on whether there is reasonable suspicion against Urich — a procedural step that does not affect prosecutors’ decisions moving forward.

The Qatargate investigation emerged from earlier inquiries into the “Bild” affair, which centered on the alleged leak of classified military documents to the German tabloid Bild in 2023 following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas. Authorities have said the leak, which involved former military spokesperson Eli Feldstein, may have been intended to influence public discourse surrounding hostage negotiations with Hamas. The initial probe led to the arrest and indictment of military reservist Ari Rosenfeld, accused of unlawfully transmitting classified information.

As investigators examined Feldstein’s continued involvement in sensitive political and security-adjacent matters, they reportedly uncovered indications of improper contacts between Netanyahu’s advisers and foreign actors, including Qatar. The Qatargate investigation has since focused on Urich and longtime political consultant Israel (Srulik) Einhorn, examining alleged advisory and financial relationships linked to Qatari interests.

According to police documents, Urich is suspected of assisting a foreign agent, disclosing classified information, accepting bribes, money laundering, and other offenses. Investigators have also suggested that hundreds of thousands of dollars may have been funneled from the Qatari government through American lobbyist Jay Potlik to Israeli businessman Gil Birger, whose company reportedly paid Feldstein’s salary while he worked in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Recent revelations, including published correspondence between Netanyahu’s advisers and Feldstein, have reignited public debate. Messages reportedly showed advisers criticizing Egypt’s role as a mediator during the conflict, with one note stating, “The Egyptians cannot be trusted,” and another alleging that “Senior army officials got rich from smuggling weapons to Hamas.”

In recent days, members of Netanyahu’s coalition have expressed concern about the scandal, including Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a former director of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).

“Whoever works for the State of Israel from inside the Prime Minister’s Office, and in parallel works for the state of Qatar and does public relations for it, is an outlaw,” Dichter said in a recording he tweeted on Dec. 28. “I don’t know if he’s a criminal outlaw, but he’s certainly a national outlaw.”

The Attorney General’s Office is now tasked with reviewing the Qatargate file, determining whether indictments should be filed against Urich, Einhorn, Feldstein, or other involved parties. Prosecutors have not announced a timetable for their decision.