‘Qatargate’: Explaining the scandal that has Netanyahu panicked
Mar 28, 2025
auto_awesome
Bar Peleg, a Haaretz journalist who first uncovered Qatargate, joins the discussion to dissect this explosive scandal involving Qatari influence on Israeli politics. He reveals how close aides to Netanyahu have been entangled with Qatari interests, raising red flags about potential impacts on public safety and trust. The conversation dives into Netanyahu's controversial attempts to shield himself from investigation, the complex aid dynamics to Gaza, and the darker implications of disinformation campaigns. This tension-laden narrative unfolds like a political thriller.
The Qatargate scandal highlights the alarming financial ties between Netanyahu's administration and Qatar, raising concerns about the funding's role in supporting Hamas's military efforts.
Investigations reveal political maneuvering within Netanyahu's office where classified leaks were used to sway public opinion during protests, underscoring issues of transparency and ethical governance.
Deep dives
Qatargate Unveiled
Qatargate centers around the investigation of financial ties between Qatar and Israeli officials, specifically linking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration to funding that may have supported Hamas's military efforts. The controversy began with large cash transfers approved by Israel to ease tensions in Gaza, which some officials warned were misused to bolster Hamas's military wing. Reports indicate that Netanyahu received multiple alerts about these fundings being diverted to military activities, raising concerns about his reluctance to allow a thorough inquiry. This investigation's implications are significant as they could expose the extent of Israel's entanglement with funding that ultimately contributed to the hostilities that erupted on October 7th.
The Bibi Leaks Scandal
The Bibi leaks scandal reveals that senior aides in Netanyahu's office were implicated in leaking classified information to foreign media to manipulate public opinion against protests demanding hostage releases during the ongoing conflict. This episode of political maneuvering coincided with a major protest that erupted following reports of hostage casualties, indicating a potential governmental strategy to alter narratives amid escalating tensions. Concurrently, an advisor with access to sensitive documents was found passing information to journalists, further complicating the narrative surrounding governmental transparency. As the leaks gained traction, concerns about the integrity of Netanyahu's administration intensified, particularly regarding its handling of hostilities and crises.
The Role of PR Campaigns
A recent investigation unveiled that Netanyahu's closest advisors engaged in a public relations campaign aimed at polishing Qatar's image ahead of the 2022 World Cup, generating substantial questions about ethical governance. This strategy, involving a cyber company, sought to counter negative perceptions of Qatar as a state supporting terrorism and engage specific demographics, including Jewish communities. Notably, documents indicate systematic attempts to influence online narratives by promoting favorable articles, followed by actions to erase these articles when scrutiny arose. Such activities not only underscore the complexities of international relations but also hint at deeper financial ties between prominent Israeli officials and Qatari interests, complicating the narrative of accountability in Israel's ongoing crises.
Like the Watergate affair that brought down President Richard Nixon, the details of the latest scandal to rock the Prime Minister’s Office and the whole of the Netanyahu government have emerged gradually over the past six months.
Mounting evidence shows that close aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have, unbeknownst to the Israeli public, been working directly or indirectly for Qatar, the country that funded Hamas as it was planning the murderous rampage of October 7.
Bar Peleg, the Haaretz journalist who broke the story that began Qatargate, reviews the fast-moving developments and details of the unfolding story with Haaretz Podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer, and explains why it matters.
Netanyahu’s desire to disrupt law enforcement’s investigation into Qatargate has been frequently cited as a reason for his recent intensive efforts to fire both Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Shin Bet Head Ronen Bar.
Moreover, because of the Israeli government’s policy of “buying quiet” from Hamas with Qatari cash in the years leading up to October 7, and the decision to put Doha at the center of hostage negotiations, Peleg stresses that “we need to know if close Netanyahu advisors have had Qatari interests on their mind. They whisper in his ear, he listens to these people - and that affects our lives in Israel.”
