MK Lazimi: Investigate Netanyahu Over Qatargate

Efforts were allegedly made to block a sensitive security review involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a request by MK Naama Lazimi that he be questioned over the so-called “Qatargate” affair and related reporting in Germany’s Bild newspaper, according to journalist Ben Caspit.

Caspit reported on Sunday that Lazimi sent a formal letter two days earlier to Shin Bet Director David Zini, requesting that the security agency examine the issues raised. In line with standard protocol, the letter was transmitted via the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary’s Office. However, according to Caspit, the request appears to have stalled at that point and never reached its intended destination.

On Sunday morning, Lazimi reportedly received an official response stating that her letter had not been delivered to the Shin Bet director. The explanation given, as cited by Caspit, was that Zini was deemed to have a conflict of interest and therefore could not handle the matter personally.

Caspit sharply criticized that justification, describing it as “amateurish.” He argued that even if the director himself were conflicted, there was no reason the request could not be examined by other senior officials within the agency, including the investigations division. According to Caspit, invoking a conflict of interest at the top should not paralyze the Shin Bet’s ability to respond to a formal inquiry from a member of Knesset.

The episode has raised questions about whether bureaucratic mechanisms are being used to delay or deflect scrutiny of politically sensitive issues connected to the prime minister. Caspit suggested that the handling of Lazimi’s request fits a broader pattern of obstruction, particularly when matters touch on alleged foreign influence or media revelations abroad.

In response to the apparent roadblock, Lazimi has now sent a replacement letter directly to the Shin Bet’s investigations branch, deliberately bypassing the Prime Minister’s Office. Caspit noted that it remains to be seen whether this route will allow the review to proceed, or whether additional “creative” reasons will be found to delay or prevent it.

The Qatargate affair centers on suspicions of Qatari-linked influence involving individuals close to Netanyahu, while the Bild matter relates to recent reporting in the German newspaper that has drawn attention in Israel. Although the two issues are distinct, both have intensified calls for security and ethical scrutiny at the highest levels of government.

The developments come amid heightened sensitivity surrounding the Shin Bet itself, following recent leadership changes and public debate over its independence. For critics, the handling of Lazimi’s request underscores concerns that institutional safeguards meant to ensure accountability may be vulnerable to political pressure.