Qatargate suspect Eli Feldstein went for questioning at Lahav 433 National Crime Unit offices on Sunday morning, after he was released to house arrest on Friday.
Feldstein is one of two chief suspects in what is known as the “Qatargate,” the investigation into ties between figures close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and who were in the Prime Minister’s Office, and the State of Qatar. At the heart of the investigations are suspected efforts to promote pro-Qatar messaging through unofficial channels.
Feldstein was a spokesperson, while the other suspect, Yontan Urich, was an aide. Pending any changes, Urich is set to be released from prison to house arrest on Monday, with his questioning set to continue in the coming days.
Sources told Walla that the investigation will focus on cell phones that the police seized from Urich, which contain deleted text messages that link him to the classified documents affair, where an indictment was filed against Feldstein and NCO Ari Rosenfeld for leaking a classified document to Feldstein. From there it was publicized in the German daily Bild.
Communications adviser Yisrael Einhorn also under suspicion
Also wanted for questioning is Yisrael Einhorn, a political communications consultant who previously worked with the Likud Party and allegedly mediated in the Bild and Qatargate affairs. Einhorn, who currently resides in Serbia, has so far refused to appear for questioning. His mother, Talia Einhorn, however, attended all of the hearings held this week. Talia, a jurist and law professor, is also a member of the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee.
While specific details of the investigation remain under wraps, a letter submitted Friday to the High Court by Deputy Attorney-General Adv. Gil Limon, regarding the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, sheds light on the broader scope of the probe, referencing both Qatargate and the Bild affair.
According to Limon, multiple suspects have been questioned and arrested, and Netanyahu has already given open testimony. This is the first time that the police and the prosecutor's office officially admitted that Einhorn is a suspect, and not just involved in the affair.
Additional suspects are also expected to arrive for questioning at the National Crime Unit, some of them associates of the prime minister.
Investigation team may fly to US to look into Jay Footlik
A team of investigators may also fly to the United States this week to conduct a legal investigation into the case of Jay Footlik, the lobbyist who works with Qatar and requested that Israeli businessman Gil Birger assist in transferring funds to Feldstein for VAT purposes.
Police and the prosecution were expected to mount pressure on Feldstein to become a state witness in both affairs.
The Israel Bar Association (IBA) is also expected to discuss Adv. Amit Haddad, who represents Netanyahu, Urich, and Einhorn. The association asked Haddad for explanations by the beginning of the week on whether or not there exists a conflict of interest for him.
So far, police have not acted on the issue, although in a hearing held in court this week, one of the investigators said that there was concern for a conflict of interest, causing Haddad to threaten to file a complaint.
On Sunday, Hadad and fellow Adv. Noa Milstein filed a request to the attorney-general to open an investigation into the consistent violations of the gag order placed on the case, along with the leaks.
Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court Judge Menachem Mizrahi, who is presiding over the case, said at the hearing, “It's like one person serving as both the defense attorney for the accused and a state witness. It's problematic.” The Bar Association's ethics committee is set to decide on the issue.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.