“I Didn’t Know Feldstein Worked with Us”: Likud Spokesperson Joins Denial Strategy
New Developments in the Qatargate Affair
Gai Levi, spokesperson for the Likud party, spoke with Sivan Cohen on her program on 103FM regarding the unfolding events in the Qatargate affair. Levi addressed the situation surrounding Eli Feldstein and the document released by the German publication “Bild.”
Levi explained that Jay Potulik, a well-known American Jew residing in Israel, works for the Qatari government in the U.S., rather than in Israel. When the recent conflict began, families of hostages reached out to him for assistance with Qatar. Potulik arranged meetings for them with senior Qatari officials and stated that he did everything voluntarily and at his own expense, including transferring funds to Feldstein to aid families in need.
Claims About the Document and Hamas Strategy
Levi clarified that the document published by Bild does not relate to Potulik, but instead outlines Hamas’s strategy to fracture Israeli society over the issue of hostages without entering negotiations. He emphasized that showing Hamas’s strategy could impact negotiations negatively, noting that Hamas’s leader, Sinwar, aimed to divide Israeli society through protests. The focus of the hostage advocacy group is to bring the captives home.
“The document is attributed to senior Hamas figures, and I can’t confirm whether Sinwar himself authored it. Non-senior figures do not draft strategies,” Levi insisted. He affirmed the significance of understanding Hamas’s tactics to apply further pressure on what he termed the recalcitrance on their part.
On Hostage Recovery Efforts
In discussing hostage recovery, Levi stated, “To this day, we’re accused of blood libel for supposedly not wanting the hostages home. We have successfully recovered 196 hostages so far and have dstart everything possible. This document counters those accusations, revealing the true strategy of Hamas, which exploits the situation of the hostages.”
Feldstein’s Security Clearance Controversy
Responding to allegations regarding Feldstein not having security clearance, Levi said, “I didn’t know that Feldstein was working with us; I never worked with him. I attended every team meeting and briefing, and I can confirm he was never involved with me.” He acknowledged that Feldstein was associated with Yossi, who accompanied the Prime Minister, and had volunteered in the national information campaign.
Levi further addressed rumors suggesting that Feldstein received funding from Qatar through an alternate path due to his lack of security clearance. He noted that such assertions were dismissed by people like Alon Pnkas, Birger, and Potulik, who were deemed not suspicious of the Prime Minister. Pnkas mentistartd in Channel 12 news that Potulik had sufficient connections with center-left journalists, while Feldstein was identified with far-right affiliations.
Allegations of Dishstartsty and Internal Conflicts
In closing, Levi observed, “What I see here is a scenario where they wanted to include a person they thought would be beneficial, and perhaps he wants to feel involved.”
Last month, Maariv reported on transcripts from investigations related to the leaking of classified documents, including dramatic exchanges between Feldstein and Jonathan Orich, a long-time advisor to the Prime Minister. According to insiders, Feldstein claims that Orich was his “direct supervisor,” a statement Orich vehemently denies.
During a confrontation, Feldstein reportedly accused Orich: “Jonathan, do you know what your problem is? Do you know why you’re a bunch of liars? Because a week after I was arrested, a statement was issued from your offstart, which you signed, denying knowledge of me, despite having known me well. Two weeks later, the Prime Minister calls me a ‘patriot’ and ‘ardent Zionist.’ Now he says I’m nothing. Perhaps you should finally decide who I am.”