Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement Saturday claiming that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar launched the so-called “Qatargate” investigation to prevent the dismissal of Bar from his post. However, Netanyahu’s timeline appears to conflict with publicly known details indicating the Qatar probe began before his move to remove Bar.
The cabinet voted unanimously on Thursday to dismiss Bar, with his ouster set for April 10, and is expected to meet again Sunday to discuss firing Baharav-Miara. Netanyahu, who has cited a loss of confidence in Bar’s leadership after the October 7 Hamas attack, insists the Shin Bet chief’s investigation into alleged foreign payments was merely a ploy to save Bar’s job.
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In his remarks, Netanyahu displayed documents that he characterized as “shocking,” though observers note that the dates he provided do not align with the known sequence of events surrounding the probe. Shin Bet and State Attorney’s Office officials have publicly refuted the prime minister’s assertions, pointing to evidence that the investigation was already underway when Netanyahu signaled his intention to dismiss Bar.
The criminal investigation, under a strict court-issued gag order, revolves around claims that senior aides in the Prime Minister’s Office received payments from a Qatar-funded PR firm while lacking proper government security clearance and government-funded salaries. Two former Netanyahu spokesmen were questioned on suspicion of fraud, money laundering, bribery, and contacting a foreign agent.
Among the allegations is the possibility that Qatar’s money helped finance aides working with Netanyahu’s office, potentially creating a conflict of interest. Netanyahu’s aides deny wrongdoing, saying any nongovernmental payments were a temporary solution for their salaries, which security clearance issues had delayed. Critics accuse Netanyahu of undermining key Israeli institutions—including the Shin Bet and the State Attorney’s Office—to shield himself and his allies from the growing corruption scandal.