JERUSALEM, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police arrested two suspects on Monday in an investigation known as "Qatargate," which examines alleged business ties between associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Qatari government, state broadcaster Kan TV News reported.

The detained individuals were identified as Yonatan Urich, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, and Eli Feldstein, the prime minister's former military affairs spokesman, according to the report.

Separately, Channel 12 News reported that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had instructed police to summon Netanyahu for open testimony in the case. The broadcaster said Urich and Feldstein were being investigated for alleged contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering.

The probe focuses on suspected improper business dealings between Netanyahu's close associates and Qatar, a Gulf state that does not have formal diplomatic ties with Israel but has played a key role in mediating ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip and negotiating hostage releases.

Netanyahu and his Likud party have dismissed the investigation as a politically motivated "fake scandal." Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)