Former Netanyahu advisor and Qatargate suspect Srulik Einhorn has spoken out about the scandal for the first time on Friday in response to a heated argument the week before on Channel 12 that involved his mother, Talia, who clashed with host Ofira Asayag over her son’s involvement in Qatargate.
"I love my mother, and it pains me that the storm surrounding me caused her distress," Einhorn said.
Asayag asked Einhorn's mother how she felt in light of suspicions that her son worked with Qatar, a country linked to Hamas and whose officials celebrated the October 7 attack. The words infuriated Einhorn, who demanded she, "take that sentence back immediately, it’s completely untrue."
In his remarks, he stresses that he acted legally and claims that Israel itself requested Qatar’s involvement.
"Hamas is a Nazi terrorist organization. Israel must eliminate it. Hamas leaders are in Doha because Israel and the United States asked Qatar to gather them there, to enable a monitoring and communication channel," he added. "The alternative would have been Beirut or Tehran.
"The suitcases of cash to Gaza were transferred at Israel’s request and under the supervision of the IDF," he further claimed. "Qatar is a strategic partner of the United States and hosts the largest American base in the Gulf. Israel, the US, and Qatar often share common interests."
Einhorn's emphasis that his activity was legal, transparent
"We worked together with Jay Footlik and Eli Feldstein to present the reality to the public, even if it's uncomfortable to hear. Footlik approached us in an attempt to help with the release of hostages, endorsed with a legal opinion from attorney Gilad Sher. Feldstein acted as an independent consultant – not on behalf of the government, not with [Shlomo] Orich, and not with the Prime Minister’s Office."
He further noted that he advised Likud campaigns but never served in the Prime Minister’s Office, adding that he's a "private individual, not a state employee."
Einhorn then directed his next words at his critics.
"When senior officials like Benny Gantz, Ram Ben Barak, Gabi Ashkenazi, and Yossi Cohen promote security deals with Qatar, that is considered legitimate. But when advisors run a legal public campaign, it suddenly becomes treason?
"My message to the viewers is simple: don’t believe every spin. Always check, question everything."