Gil Birger transferred funds from Qatari lobbyist Jay Footlik to Eli Feldstein, a spokesman for PM Netanyahu, due to tax issues. The arrangement is confirmed by a recording and is linked to Feldstein’s work for a foreign company aiding Qatar amid hostage negotiations. Legal representatives dispute the claims, and related advisory activities by Netanyahu’s aides further complicate the situation.
Israeli businessman Gil Birger reportedly transferred funds from Jay Footlik, a lobbyist for the Qatari government, to Eli Feldstein, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This information was revealed in a recording aired by Kan Bet public radio, confirming prior reports from Israel’s Channel 13 News. In the recording, Birger states that the transfer was completed over several months due to tax-related concerns.
Birger claims in the recording, “[Feldstein] asked for my help because of tax concerns.” He further elaborates on his long-standing relationship with Feldstein, asserting that he is not involved in operations within Israel and emphasizing that Feldstein hired Footlik, not him. This arrangement was established due to an ongoing agreement concerning various matters.
A prior report from Channel 12 indicated that while still serving under Netanyahu, Feldstein facilitated public relations for a foreign company assisting the Qatari government regarding a hostage situation. Feldstein reportedly engaged with journalists to improve Qatar’s public image during these negotiations, which ceased following the developments surrounding the BibiLeaks affair, involving leaked classified documents.
Feldstein’s attorney has disputed the accuracy of Channel 12’s claims, and Omer Dostri from Netanyahu’s office stated that they had no awareness of the situation. Furthermore, a previous report by Haaretz disclosed that some of Netanyahu’s senior advisors had collaborated on a PR campaign designed to enhance Qatar’s reputation before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
These advisors, Yonatan Urich and Israel Einhorn, were said to work with a separate Israeli firm to promote Qatar, which was known to be a financial supporter of Hamas. Both Urich and his company, Perception, denied the claims of facilitating such a campaign.
In summary, Israeli businessman Gil Birger’s financial dealings involving a Qatari lobbyist and a spokesman for Prime Minister Netanyahu raise significant questions regarding transparency and potential conflicts of interest. The varying responses to the allegations illustrate the complexity of political and public relations ties, particularly concerning Qatar’s image during sensitive negotiations. This incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny of public officials’ connections with foreign entities and the impact on national narratives.
Original Source: www.haaretz.com
