Yonatan Urich-Eli Feldstein
Aide to Israel’s Netanyahu arrested in PM corruption probe
Israeli police announced on Monday the arrest of two individuals, one of whom was confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party as a senior aide to the long-serving leader.
Israeli media identified the two men as Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, both reportedly aides to the prime minister and allegedly linked to what has been dubbed locally as the “Qatargate Affair.”
The arrests ratchet up political tensions in the country, where the government is trying to fire both the domestic security chief and attorney general, while expanding the power of politicians over the appointment of judges.
The moves have reignited a protest movement in Israel, coinciding with the government’s resumption of fighting this month in the Gaza Strip.
Feldstein had separately been arrested late last year and released to house arrest on accusations of leaking a classified document related to hostage negotiations in Gaza, to shift critical media coverage of the Israeli leader.
Media reports on Monday further indicated that Netanyahu himself is expected to be questioned by police in connection with the Qatargate case .
Netanyahu is separately on trial over corruption allegations that he denies.
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“Following an investigation being conducted by the National Unit for International Investigations (YAHBAL)… two suspects were arrested today for questioning,” the police said in a statement, noting that the case remains under a court-imposed gag order.
Israeli media also reported that a journalist from a prominent Israeli publication had been summoned for questioning.
AFP was unable to independently verify the identities of those arrested.
Requests for confirmation from Netanyahu’s office were not immediately answered.
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