Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Sunday that any aides in the Prime Minister’s Office found to have worked on behalf of Qatar must be prosecuted, addressing growing controversy surrounding the so-called “Qatargate” affair.
“If someone in the prime minister’s office works for another country, he should be denounced and brought to justice,” Cohen said in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet radio. He stressed that this is especially serious if the country involved is Qatar, which he accused of supporting terrorism.
The scandal centers on allegations that senior aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — including Eli Feldstein and Jonatan Urich — acted as paid lobbyists for Qatar while serving in official government roles. Qatar is known as a key backer of Hamas.
The affair returned to public attention following new media revelations and a high-profile interview given by Feldstein to Kan.
Cohen’s remarks follow calls from other cabinet members for a full investigation into the allegations, underscoring mounting pressure on the Prime Minister’s Office to address concerns about foreign influence and national security.
The case remains under scrutiny as demands for transparency continue to grow.
