Roman Gofman will not handle the 'Qatargate' affair due to conflict of interest
The State Attorney's Office is awaiting a Mossad opinion to determine if the 'Qatargate' affair poses a risk to national security. Mossad Director Roman Gofman has recused himself from the case due to personal ties with the individuals involved, appointing another official to oversee the matter.
Mossad Director Roman Gofman will not handle the 'Qatargate' affair due to concerns regarding a conflict of interest. This decision follows his personal acquaintance with the individuals involved in the case, namely Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yonatan Urich.
The State Attorney's Office has been awaiting a security opinion from the Mossad to determine whether the 'Qatargate' affair causes damage to national security. The opinion was delayed due to Gofman's recent appointment. Ultimately, the Mossad assigned a professional to sign the opinion and handle the case. This decision is part of Gofman's list of conflicts of interest, which he is not required to disclose publicly.
Approximately one month ago, the testimony of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the 'Qatargate' affair was revealed, following the arrest of his close advisor Yonatan Urich and former office spokesperson Eli Feldstein on March 31, 2025. Netanyahu attempted to downplay direct working relationships with the individuals involved, claiming he was unaware of their private business. Regarding Feldstein, the Prime Minister stated that he initially did not recall interviewing him for the position of Likud spokesperson years ago.
Conversely, in his testimony, Feldstein described a direct connection with the Prime Minister and a specific task he claims to have received regarding the public discourse on responsibility for the events of October 7:
"He calls me and asks me what they are talking about in the news—are they still talking about responsibility for October 7? I tell him: 'Yes, they are talking about it,' and then I receive a task from him: 'Think about what to do with this.' I asked: 'What do I do with the responsibility?', and he replied: 'Think of something that will lower the media storm around the issue of whether the Prime Minister takes responsibility for October 7.'"
The 'Qatargate' affair concerns suspicions of illicit connections and the transfer of funds from the government of Qatar to advisors in the Prime Minister's office during the war. The investigation began after it was revealed that Eli Feldstein, who served as a security spokesperson, was working in parallel to improve Qatar's image during hostage negotiations. The Shin Bet and the police launched a criminal investigation, which uncovered suspicions of indirect funding: money transferred from Qatar via American lobbyist Jay Footlik and the holding company of Israeli businessman Gil Birger, allegedly used to finance Feldstein's salary, alongside suspicions of transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars through companies linked to Netanyahu's media advisor, Yonatan Urich.
