Netanyahu files lawsuit against his former defense minister over claims he received money from Qatar

After an Israeli court imposed a gag order on the details of the"Qatargate" case on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would sue former Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon over the claim that he received money from Qatar. 

The Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court issued a gag order at the request of the police in the "Qatargate" case. The order, which will be in effect until April 10, prohibits the publication of any details regarding the investigation. 

Netanyahu filed his defamation lawsuit against Ya'alon in court over remarks that Ya’alon made on a Kan Reshet Bet radio program a few days ago. The lawsuit claims that Ya'alon accused Netanyahu of treason against the state and receiving tens of millions of dollars from the State of Qatar. 

During the radio interview earlier this week, Ya’alon addressed the investigation into the ties between Qatar and Netanyahu's office, saying there was evidence that the prime minister had received funds from Qatar. Ya’alon also tied the attempt to fire Ronen Bar, the director of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence, to the Qatargate investigation. 

According to the revelations, close advisors to Netanyahu served as paid consultants for Qatar and worked to improve Qatar's image in Israel. 

Ya'alon said, “Now it turns out that three people in the Prime Minister's Office are suspected of being funded by Qatar.”  

He continued: “There is intelligence information that has not yet been proven, for that an investigation is needed, that the Prime Minister also received $15 million in 2012 and $50 million in 2018.” 

When the interviewer asked, “Is there evidence for this?" and added that "this is something extremely serious," Ya'alon replied, “Of course. Look, that's why when the head of the Shin Bet investigates this, they immediately start firing him.” 

Ya’alon also claimed that the documents supporting the accusation were sourced from “documents from American intelligence.” 

Netanyahu announced the filing of his lawsuit in a video posted on social media. 

“Nothing will stop me from continuing to make the right decisions for the security of our country. Not even the fake news campaign, these scandals that pop up every morning. They put some hot air balloon in the air, and it comes out as quickly as it fills up,” Netanyahu said regarding the accusations. 

“I sued Bogie Ya'alon for this despicable lie he spread as if I received something from Qatar,” Netanyahu said in the video. “So I'll tell you. I didn't receive anything from Qatar, but I will receive from Bogie.” 

Ya'alon responded to Netanyahu's video with a message on 𝕏.

"I hear that the Hamas financier intends to sue me. On the contrary! Perhaps this will be an opportunity to hear his explanation of the suitcases of cash from Qatar to Hamas? Perhaps this will be an opportunity to hear his response to Qatar's funding of three of his close aides? Someone is under pressure from the ISA interrogation, which has been subject to a gag order," he wrote.

Experts suggest that former defense minister could win the lawsuit by proving there are intelligence documents that indicate Netanyahu may have received money from Qatar. He is not required to prove that the prime minister actually received the funds.

The case is unusual, as it would require the sharing of government intelligence documents to settle a defamation lawsuit. 

Netanyahu’s critics argue that his attempts to dismiss senior officials, including security agency head Ronen Bar and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, are politically motivated attempts to stay in power.

Netanyahu has rejected the claims, stating that he is the victim of a “deep state” attempt to remove him from office.