Israeli political consultants accused of running covert Qatar influence campaign amid Gaza war

Yisrael Einhorn, a former nightlife personality turned political consultant, and Jay Footlik, a longtime Qatar lobbyist, coordinated a covert public-relations effort to reshape Qatar’s reputation during the Gaza war. Their firm Perception, which previously handled Likud campaigns, received regular payments from Qatar and used a network that included Eli Feldstein, a former military-affairs spokesperson, to plant stories suggesting Qatar was essential to peace talks.

These pieces, often attributed to anonymous senior U.S. officials, appeared on Israeli television and print media, prompting public outcry. The scandal, now known as Qatargate, has led to a sweeping police probe, while Qatar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have dismissed the allegations as propaganda. The affair has become a focal point of political debate as Israel approaches national elections, with opponents labeling it a grave act of treason.