In a dramatic development in Israel’s Qatargate scandal, Judge Menachem Mizrachi of the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court has detailed troubling suspicions involving high-level aides to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. According to Judge Mizrachi’s findings, there is “reasonable suspicion” that Yonatan Urich, a close aide to Netanyahu, and Eli Feldstein, formerly the prime minister’s spokesman, were involved in questionable financial dealings and unlawful ties with Qatar. The allegations include potential financial crimes and money laundering. Central to the investigation is an American lobbying firm, The Third Circle, headed by lobbyist Jay Footlik. The court documents state that Urich established direct connections with the firm to promote Qatar positively regarding its role in negotiating a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. At the same time, Qatar allegedly sought to tarnish Egypt’s image as an impartial mediator in the negotiations. Judge Mizrahi outlined that a covert economic arrangement was allegedly set up, facilitated by Gulf-based Israeli businessman Gil Birger, involving monetary payments from The Third Circle to Feldstein, mediated by Urich. The funds, investigators suspect, were intended to incentivize media coverage sympathetic to Qatar, downplaying Egypt’s constructive role. The judge’s summary explicitly accuses Urich, Feldstein, and Birger of manipulating the media narrative to benefit Qatar, thus “dictating the media agenda” and undermining Egypt’s reputation. The revelations come as Mizrachi lifted a gag order that had repeatedly been breached, declaring that continued secrecy had become detrimental to the “proper conduct of the investigation.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)