Israeli businessman Gil Birger has admitted to transferring funds from American lobbyist Jay Footlik to Eli Feldstein, a former aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as part of a tax favor. This revelation is part of the wider Qatar-Gate scandal, which involves potential connections between Netanyahu’s office and Qatar amidst security concerns. The Shin Bet is actively investigating these links while a gag order restricts further information.
In a developing story concerning the Qatar-Gate scandal, Israeli businessman Gil Birger has confirmed in a released recording that he facilitated a monetary transfer from Jay Footlik, an American lobbyist for the Qatari government, to Eli Feldstein, a former aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Birger stated that this transaction was orchestrated as a tax favor.
Feldstein, while serving as Netanyahu’s spokesman, received the funds, but it remains unclear if he was aware of their Qatari origins. When questioned, Birger acknowledged that he was asked to transfer the funds for tax reasons and affirmed his long-standing relationship with Footlik, having known him for 25 years. Birger distinguished himself from the operational details, stating, “I don’t work on this, I don’t work in the country, I have no connection to people in the country.”
This revelation emerges alongside the ongoing investigation by Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, which is probing potential links between the Prime Minister’s Office and Qatari entities. The inquiry was initiated following concerns about possible risks to state secrets, triggered by reports sent to Shin Bet by lawmakers Gilad Kariv and Naama Lazimi. Notably, the Gulf nation is implicated in financing Hamas activities. A gag order has restricted access to further details regarding the investigation.
The Qatar-Gate investigation highlights significant allegations surrounding senior political figures in Israel. Gil Birger’s admission regarding the financial transfer raises critical questions about the connections between Israeli officials and foreign entities, particularly amid rising concerns about national security. The ongoing inquiry by Shin Bet may yield further insights into these complex interactions, which involve elements linked to Hamas funding.
Original Source: www.i24news.tv
