Three journalists, Shirit Avitan Cohen from Israel Hayom, Nir Dvori from N12, and Suleiman Maswadeh from Kan, are expected to give open testimony to the Israel Police on Thursday regarding the "Qatargate" case.
This came a day after after two suspects in the case – Eli Feldstein and Yonatan Urich – provided contradictory testimonies, with Feldstein claiming that he received money from businessman Gil Birger for his work in the Prime Minister's Office and Urich stating he does not know Birger and has never spoken with him.
Birger claimed that he transferred the funds on behalf of Jay Footlik, a lobbyist for Qatar, citing tax considerations as the motive.
Feldstein admitted to receiving the money but asserted he was unaware that its source was tied to Qatar.
Zvika Klein
Alongside Feldstein and Urich, the Jerusalem Post’s editor-in-chief, Zvika Klein was questioned by police as part of the investigation.
Last year, Klein visited Qatar at the direct invitation of the Gulf state’s government and wrote a series of articles for the Post on his meetings with officials following his return.
Klein's ongoing house arrest has been condemned by National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz, who said investigating or arresting a journalist is “extremely exceptional events in a democracy” that should only happen when there is “clear and solid criminal suspicion.”
He called on the attorney-general and state prosecutor to “thoroughly examine the necessity of the house arrest of the Post’s editor.. The potential harm to freedom of the press, which is a fundamental value in democracy, must be taken into account in decision-making.”
