Jerusalem, 27 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Mossad chief Roman Gofman has stepped aside from the investigation into Qatar payments to advisors to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over a possible conflict of interest because of his personal ties to Netanyahu and his adviser Jonathan Urich.
The State Attorney’s Office had been waiting for a Mossad assessment on whether the affair posed a threat to national security. The assessment was delayed after Gofman took office. The Mossad has now appointed another official to handle the case and sign the assessment.
The investigation began after reports that Eli Feldstein, a former security spokesman in the Prime Minister’s Office, also worked to improve Qatar’s image during hostage negotiations.
Police and the Shin Bet suspect that money was transferred indirectly from Qatar through American lobbyist Jay Footlik and Israeli businessman Gil Birger, with additional payments allegedly linked to Urich.