Israeli Channel 12 breaks the allegation that Israeli officials took funds from Qatar, a story that evolves as “Qatargate.” The controversy centers on allegations that several of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s advisers were paid, directly or through intermediaries, to mount an image-laundering campaign on Qatar’s behalf. Two weeks later, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara orders the Shin Bet and the Israel Police open an investigation leading to the arrest of two senior advisers to the prime minister. Within two months, the government seeks to fire the Shin Bet head, Ronen Bar, and the attorney general.
