Israeli businessman Gil Birger disclosed that he transferred funds from Qatari lobbyist Jay Footlik to Eli Feldstein, a spokesman for PM Netanyahu, citing tax-related reasons. This revelation aligns with prior reports, including allegations of Feldstein aiding Qatar’s public relations during hostage negotiations. The Prime Minister’s Office claims ignorance of these dealings, amidst ongoing scrutiny of their advisor’s roles in promoting Qatar’s image.
Israeli businessman Gil Birger has disclosed in a recording aired by Kan Bet public radio that he transferred funds from Jay Footlik, a lobbyist for the Qatari government, to Eli Feldstein, who served as a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The recording aligns with a prior report from Israel’s Channel 13 News, in which Birger describes the transactions as being due to tax-related issues affecting those involved.
Birger noted, “[Feldstein] asked for my help because of tax concerns… I’ve known him for 25 years. I’m not involved, I don’t operate in Israel. He worked with him for several months. He hired him, not me. I have an agreement with Jay [Footlik] on many things.”
In February, Channel 12 News revealed that Feldstein provided public relations services to a foreign company connected to the Qatari government regarding hostage negotiations while still employed by Netanyahu. He was reportedly tasked with fostering a positive narrative for Qatar during the talks, which ended amid the emergence of the BibiLeaks scandal regarding classified documents.
Feldstein’s legal representative has contested the accuracy of Channel 12’s report, while Omer Dostri, Netanyahu’s spokesman, asserted that the Prime Minister’s Office was unaware of the situation. Furthermore, a report from Haaretz in November indicated that two senior advisers to Netanyahu had developed a public relations initiative to enhance Qatar’s reputation prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which took place in the state.
These advisers, Yonatan Urich and Israel Einhorn, allegedly collaborated with an Israeli firm, forming a marketing strategy to portray Qatar positively during the World Cup preparations, particularly given its role as a financial supporter of Hamas. Both Urich and the company Perception have denied these allegations.
In summary, Israeli businessman Gil Birger confirmed in a recording the financial transfers from a Qatari lobbyist to Benyamin Netanyahu’s spokesman, Eli Feldstein, linking the transactions to tax concerns. Concurrently, allegations also suggest Feldstein engaged in public relations efforts for Qatar while still working for the Prime Minister. These developments have raised significant questions about the intertwining of political and financial dealings involving Netanyahu’s office and foreign interests.
Original Source: www.haaretz.com
