Shin Bet to Change 'Qatargate' Opinion Says Urich, Feldstein Didn't Harm State Security - Report
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) is reportedly considering downplaying the severity of offenses in the 'Qatargate' affair.
- This potential shift could lead to the dropping of state security-related charges against Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, focusing instead on lesser charges like bribery and fraud.
- Senior law enforcement officials have criticized this move, attributing it to a "new spirit" within the Shin Bet under Director David Zini, despite former head Ronen Bar's concerns about severe harm to state security.
A significant development is reportedly underway within Israel's security apparatus concerning the 'Qatargate' affair. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) is allegedly contemplating a substantial reduction in the perceived severity of offenses linked to Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein. This potential reevaluation, if enacted, could lead to the dismissal of charges directly related to state security.
completely watered down and that “they dropped the security implications by several levels.”
Sources indicate that the Shin Bet's opinion on the matter has been described by law enforcement officials as "completely watered down," with security implications reportedly diminished significantly. Should this occur, the court might be compelled to shift focus from espionage-related charges to allegations such as bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering. This potential move has drawn sharp criticism from senior law enforcement figures.
This is a continuation of a trend.
These officials attribute the shift to a "new spirit" allegedly being fostered by Shin Bet Director David Zini, even though he has reportedly been barred from directly handling the affair. This contrasts sharply with the stance of former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, who previously stated that the 'Qatargate' case raises "the gravest suspicions of severe harm to state security." The delay in finalizing the Shin Bet's opinion has reportedly hindered the filing of indictments, prolonging the legal process.
the gravest suspicions of severe harm to state security.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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