Energy Minister Eli Cohen appeared to criticize the handling of the so-called “Qatargate” affair in the Prime Minister’s Office, saying that anyone working on behalf of a foreign country while employed there should face criminal consequences.

Speaking to Kan Reshet Bet, Cohen, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, said, “If someone in the prime minister’s office works on behalf of another country, he should be denounced and brought to justice.”

Cohen added that such action is especially necessary if the foreign state involved is Qatar, which he said “supports terrorism.”

His remarks followed similar comments made last week by Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, who publicly called for a full investigation into the affair.

The Qatargate allegations center on claims that senior aides to the prime minister — Eli Feldstein and Jonatan Urich — acted as paid lobbyists for Qatar, a state that backs Hamas, while simultaneously serving in Netanyahu’s office.

The controversy resurfaced last week following new disclosures related to the case. Renewed attention was sparked by a three-part interview Feldstein gave to Kan, along with additional reporting by other Hebrew-language media outlets, which presented further details about the alleged activities.

The Prime Minister’s Office has not issued a formal response to Cohen’s remarks.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)