Israeli police announced Monday the arrest of two Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s advisers as part of a case called “Qatargate”. “

Netanyahu’s associates Jonathan Urich and Eli Felstein – as Sin Beth suspected, the internal security and spying service – were bribed by Doha to promote positive reports about Qatar.

“After an examination carried out by the National International Research Unit, two suspects were detained to be interrogated,” the police said in a statement, reminding that the proceedings in the case are surrounded by secrecy upon order of justice.

As Jpost reports, the assistants allegedly involved in a scandal in which they were paid by Qatar, while managing negotiations for hostages.

The charges against suspects include bribery, contact with a foreign agent, confidence breach, money laundering and tax offenses.

Qatar, the Gulf Emirates, which has no formally diplomatic relations with Israel and has been hosting for years leaders of the Palestinian Islamist Movement, plays a mediator in indirect negotiations for the ceasefire in the strip.

Shortly thereafter, the Israeli prime minister himself testified to the police, not as a defendant but as a person who knows the case, who reported a “political investigation” and accused the police of taking his two associates hostage.

“As soon as I was asked to testify, I said I was free and wanted to submit immediately (…) I realized that it was political research, but I didn’t realize to what extent,” Mr Netanyahu said in a video he published via a Telegram.

“They hold Jonathan Urich and Eli Felstein as hostages,” he said.

“The barbaric arrest of Jonathan Urich marks a new outbreak in the political witch hunt to overthrow a right -wing prime minister and prevent the deportation of Sin Beth’s chief,” said Likund, the party of Prime Minister Nitania.

The ‘War’ in Sin Beet and how it connects to the scandal

Two weeks ago, the Israeli government unanimously approved Mr Netanyahu’s proposal to abolish Sin Beth’s head, Ronen Bar. However, after appeal, the Supreme Court suspended his exemption from the duties of until the case was to be examined, until April 8.

Defying this decision, Benjamin Netanyahu chose Eli Sarvit, the former Chief of Staff, Monday to take over a new Head of Sin Beth.

General Public Prosecutor Gali Baharav-Miara-the government has initiated a process to get away from its position-has expressed strong reservations about the removal of Ronen Bar.

Yesterday Monday Likud directly linked the Qatargate investigation with efforts to prevent the removal of Mr Bar and Mrs Baharav-Miara, arguing that “for weeks, the General Prosecutor and Sin Beth’s head is doing so. Urich and others like meat for cannons. “

In early March, Sin Beth announced that she has begun investigating a investigation against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s associates in the case, while prohibiting any detail publication.