Israeli businessman Gil Birger confessed in a recorded statement to transferring money from a lobbyist for Qatar to Eli Feldstein, a former aide to Prime Minister Netanyahu, purportedly for tax reasons. The transaction is under scrutiny as part of the “Qatar-Gate” investigation, initiated by concerns surrounding connections between the Prime Minister’s Office and Qatar, known for its funding of Hamas.
Recent revelations disclose that Israeli businessman Gil Birger confirmed transferring funds from Jay Footlik, a lobbyist for the Qatari government, to Eli Feldstein, a former aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Birger acknowledged in a recording from Reshet Bet that this transaction was made as a favor to Footlik, purportedly for tax-related purposes.
Feldstein allegedly received these funds while serving as Netanyahu’s spokesperson, and it remains unclear if he was aware of their Qatari origin. Birger disclosed that he had known Footlik for 25 years but stated that he was not familiar with the intricate details of the transaction. “I don’t work on this, I don’t work in the country, I have no connection to people in the country,” he declared.
These disclosures arise amidst the ongoing “Qatar-Gate” scandal, where the Shin Bet security agency is investigating connections between parties within the Prime Minister’s Office and Qatar. This inquiry follows concerns about potential threats to state secrets, prompted by lawmakers Gilad Kariv and Naama Lazimi who raised alarms regarding Netanyahu’s advisors allegedly providing services to Qatar, a nation known for funding Hamas. However, a gag order restricts the circulation of further details related to the investigation.
The admission by Gil Birger regarding the transfer of funds from a Qatari lobbyist to a Netanyahu aide raises significant concerns about the ethical implications of such transactions. As investigations unfold under the scrutiny of the Shin Bet, there remains uncertainty about the awareness of Eli Feldstein concerning the source of the funds. This situation underscores the sensitive nature of political alliances and foreign influences in Israel, particularly in light of the ongoing inquiry into potential threats to national security.
Original Source: www.i24news.tv
