Netanyahu says Qatar 'not an enemy state'
The Israeli regime's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has defended his aides facing allegations that they received financing from Qatar, saying the Persian Gulf sheikhdom is "not an enemy state."
In a video statement on Wednesday, Netanyahu said, "Qatar is a complex country; it is not a simple country, but it is not an enemy state."
He argued that his aides were wrongly accused as "many praise" Qatar in Israel, including his political rivals and intelligence officials.
Netanyahu made the remarks a day after he released a video accusing police of holding two of his aides “hostage” in the so-called Qatargate investigation.
He defends Jonatan Urich, one of his top aides arrested in the investigation.
“Jonatan is a dedicated employee,” said Netanyahu. “He’s my political adviser in the Likud. He doesn’t have access to any classified intelligence material, but they say he praised Qatar.”
“Do you know who really praised Qatar?” Netanyahu asked.
He pointed at Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who praised Doha for their role in hostage talks after meeting a “senior Qatari official” in Paris in January.
Netanyahu said National Unity chairman Benny Gantz also praised Qatar many times, adding that he flew to Qatar to try to sell spy software for his company Fifth Dimension before he entered politics.
He added that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar visited Qatar many times during hostage negotiations and praised them.
Netanyahu also claimed that Bar was a guest of Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.
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