Israel court extends detention of Netanyahu aides over 'Qatargate' probe

An Israeli court extended, on Thursday, the detention of two aides of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for another day over suspicions of receiving money from Qatar to allegedly promote its image as a mediator in Israeli media.

According to the Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, the Rishon LeZion Magistrate’s Court agreed to extend the arrest of Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein by an additional 24 hours, rejecting a police request to extend it by seven days.

KAN said investigations exposed discrepancies in the testimonies of the suspects in the case, dubbed by the Israeli media as “Qatargate”.

The broadcaster said that one of the two aides lied during his interrogation, without mentioning his name.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu denounced the investigations against his aides, describing the accusations as ridiculous.

The Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief, Zvika Klein, was released from house arrest on Thursday as he was questioned over ties to the case with Netanyahu’s two aides.

Israel’s Attorney-General, Gali Baharav-Miara, said that two other journalists could possibly be questioned over the case.

There was no comment from Qatari authorities on the Israeli accusations.

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