Investigation Reveals Qatari Gifts Given to Senior IDF Officials
An investigative report revealed that senior IDF officials received luxury gifts from Qatari representatives. The findings sparked a public debate and a social media clash between the journalist and the former spouse of a top intelligence commander.
An investigative report broadcast by local media revealed that senior Israeli military officials received luxury gifts from Qatari representatives, sparking a public debate and a social media dispute. According to the report, the gifts included watches, perfumes, and other items given during official engagements.
In March 2022, the late Amit Sa'ar, then-head of the IDF Intelligence Directorate's Research Division, received ties, perfumes, and three watches valued at 31,306 shekels from Qatari officials. In August of that year, Effie Defrin, then-head of the Foreign Relations Division and currently the IDF Spokesperson, received an executive pen, a tie, perfumes, and two watches valued at 23,545 shekels. In both instances, the gifts were transferred to state ownership rather than being retained personally.
The investigation also focused on former Military Intelligence Directorate chief Aharon Haliva. In December 2022, Haliva received a replica of a World Cup match ball valued at 250 shekels from a Qatari foreign relations representative. Records indicate that Haliva formally requested and obtained permission from the military to take the item home. A week prior, he received a toiletry bag valued at 120 shekels from a journalist, for which he also sought and secured official clearance.
The publication prompted a sharp online exchange between the investigative journalist and Shira Margalit, Haliva's former spouse. Margalit defended the officials, arguing that refusing gifts in diplomatic settings violates local protocols and can be perceived as an insult to hosts. She also criticized the journalist who provided the toiletry bag, alleging a breach of professional ethics, and questioned the accuracy of the report with a critical remark.
The journalist rejected the criticism, noting that the report was based on official military documentation and pointing out that Haliva had declined to comment directly on the findings. The dispute underscored ongoing scrutiny regarding the protocols governing gifts received by high-ranking military personnel during official duties.
