Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly approved a number of multi-million dollar contracts between Israeli defence firms and the Qatari state.
Elbit, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have all received ministerial authorisation for the deals, according to the Walla news agency.
The companies’ international dealings are regulated by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and they require approval from the department before finalising contracts with foreign partners.
According to the report, Elbit’s deal with Doha is worth over $100 million, while Rafael’s is for tens of millions. Negotiations involving IAI have reportedly not concluded yet, but company representatives are understood to have regularly travelled to Qatar and hosted a delegation from the nation at the firm’s Israeli headquarters.
The report states that each of these was signed off by the MoD after being greenlit by senior IDF officials and Netanyahu himself.
However, the reported agreements are likely to fuel further speculation of the alleged links between the Prime Minister’s Office and the government of the emirate.
Senior Netanyahu staffers are under intense scrutiny as part of the so-called “Qatargate” investigation, with two top aides recently arrested over allegations they were paid to promote Qatari interests in Israel.
Netanyahu himself has not been directly implicated and has decried the probe as a “political witch hunt”, but has faced criticism over his apparent reticence to criticise the Gulf state despite long standing allegations that it funds terrorism.
Hamas’ political leadership openly live in Doha and Israeli MKs have previously tried to oust the country from its role as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations due to allegations that it supports the terror group.
And just yesterday Channel 12 reported that a cache of Hamas documents seized from Gaza showed that the country had been a ‘main artery’ of its funding and even attempted to scupper a US-backed peace deal in 2020. The Qatari government has since denied the report, calling it “fabricated”.
A spokesperson for Elbit said: “Elbit Systems’ activity in the international market is subject to the guidelines and restrictions of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, and accordingly, the company operates under these guidelines.”
A Rafael spokesperson said: “Rafael does not provide information about business partners.
"Rafael has operated and operates according to the most stringent international standards, with regard to the compliance of its business partners and in accordance with the Export Control and Licencing Law.”
