In explosive remarks, former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon revealed that the State of Qatar paid millions of dollars to current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing accusations at the International Criminal Court of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking to an Israeli news channel, Ya’alon stated that Qatar gave Netanyahu $15 million in 2012, and then again in 2018, provided him with a staggering sum of $50 million. The disclosure visibly stunned the channel’s anchors.
Given the gravity of the claim, the Israeli journalist reiterated the question to the former defense minister, asking whether he was indeed referring to the State of Qatar. Ya’alon confirmed and added that there are documents to support his statements.
These revelations add to a growing body of statements by Israeli officials and media reports suggesting covert communications and relations between Doha and Tel Aviv, despite Qatar’s official position that it maintains no ties with Israel except in exceptional cases related to negotiations on Gaza and the Palestinian territories.
Ya’alon’s claims also coincide with the unfolding “QatarGate” scandal that has shaken Israel’s political and media circles. The scandal involves allegations that two close associates of Netanyahu received funds from Qatar to promote its role as a key mediator in the Gaza war, at the expense of Egypt’s influence.
Israeli authorities have arrested Netanyahu’s media adviser Yonatan Urich and former aide Eli Fildstein as part of a bribery investigation. Both are accused of accepting money from Qatar to enhance its image as a peace broker. A judge has ordered them to remain in custody during the investigation.
The presiding judge said that confidential materials submitted in the case point to suspicions that an American company named Third Circle Inc., which has ties to Qatar, contacted one of the suspects to publish negative messages about Egypt and downplay its role in negotiations to release hostages held since October 7 and reach a permanent ceasefire.
According to the same source, investigations reveal that the suspects sought to steer media coverage in Qatar’s favor by encouraging journalists to write positive articles about Doha and diminish Cairo’s role. This included arranging visits for Israeli journalists to Qatar, including Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Zvika Klein, who was also questioned.
Additionally, France 24 reported that this is not the first time allegations have surfaced about Qatar’s ties with Israeli officials, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations. Israeli media outlets previously reported that Qatar hired a consulting firm called Perception, in which Urich is a partner, to improve its image ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The same source noted that in February, a report by Israel’s Channel 12 revealed that the second suspect, Fildstein, was receiving a salary from Guy Footlik, the head of Third Circle Inc., which operates as a pro-Qatar lobbying firm in the United States.
