Description: Two close associates to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been arrested under suspicion of promoting Qatari interests and receiving bribes. The individuals in question are Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein present and former advisors to the Prime Minister who have allegedly received large sums of money to promote Qatar’s interests throughout the highest levels of the Israeli government. Qatar, a known Hamas financier has been one of the mediators between Hamas and Israel in formulating a potential peace agreement as a resolution for the war in Gaza and the West Bank. Qatargate arrives at a sensitive time in the war and just one more scandal on the Israeli PM’s dossier after recent clashes with Shin Bet’s chief Ronen Bar and opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid who have constantly pushed for Netanyahu’s resignation.
Impact: The Qatargate scandal emphasizes the covert proxy war between Hamas and Israel and elaborates on the severe omissions made by Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet. The scandal also showcases that Israel and more precisely its PM Netanyahu is currently facing severe internal political crisis amid the war in Gaza and the West Bank as no resemblance of resolution has been discussed so far. Israel’s constant military advances have been nothing but a destructive temporary measure. Sources have indicated that Shin Bet knew about the money transfers to the Israeli officials, and the money trace was made in order to create political divisions within Hamas but apparently to no avail. The scandal highlighted the deterioration in Israel’s political landscape as it could potentially influence the outcome of the war against Hamas on the long run.