Netanyahu sues former Israeli defense minister over comments regarding millions of dollars from Qatar

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he is suing his former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon over comments suggesting that Ya’alon received money from Qatar, in light of an investigation into alleged connections between Doha and several officials in the Prime Minister’s Office, the Times of Israel reports.

In an interview with Kan Radio, Ya’alon implied that Emirati intelligence documents contained “unsubstantiated intelligence information,” indicating that the prime minister received $15 million in 2012 and $50 million in 2018 from Qatar.

In a video posted on social media, Netanyahu accused Ya’alon of spreading “despicable lies” and noted that he has decided to no longer remain silent.

According to the Israeli prime minister, Ya’alon’s statements are part of a broader campaign of “extortion threats” directed against him and his family.