News 13 Reporter Faces Scrutiny Over Stay at Qatari Lobbyist's Home

Suleiman Maswadeh, News 13's correspondent in the United States, is facing controversy after residing for two weeks in the Virginia home of Qatari lobbyist Jay Pootlik last month. Maswadeh even broadcast from the property at least twice. Pootlik is a key figure in an ongoing police investigation into suspected bribery of Prime Minister's advisor Eli Feldstein.

Property records in Virginia and filings with the U.S. Department of Justice indicate the home is registered to Pootlik and served as the official address for his lobbying firm, Third Circle, which has contracts with the Qatari embassy in Washington. The situation is particularly sensitive as Maswadeh himself was summoned to testify to the police about six months ago as part of the "Qatargate" investigation. This probe is examining publications Feldstein allegedly shared with journalists while simultaneously serving as Pootlik's campaign spokesperson in Israel.

Maswadeh stated that Feldstein approached him on security matters, presenting himself as the Prime Minister's representative. The investigation also revealed that Feldstein once deceived Maswadeh by including a former Mossad employee who worked for the lobbyist in a call. Police suspect Feldstein's employment by Pootlik constitutes bribery, though Pootlik has not been questioned due to U.S. authorities' refusal to cooperate. However, law enforcement indicated he would be subject to questioning if he visits Israel.

Prime Minister's advisors Jonathan Uriach and Eli Feldstein had their arrests extended recently amid a confrontation over investigation details and conflicting accounts. The police sought a seven-day extension, citing concerns of evidence tampering. Maswadeh maintains he paid full rent for the accommodation, considers Pootlik a long-time personal friend, and has never published anything concerning the lobbyist's business dealings.

News 13 issued a statement acknowledging Maswadeh's "error in judgment" but affirmed their full support for his work, characterizing the stay as a brief hosting by a personal friend in an empty apartment. The network stated Maswedeh never covered Pootlik or his clients and did not broadcast information on his behalf. This incident adds to a series of cases examining connections between Israeli figures and the Qatari lobbyist amid bribery suspicions and foreign interest promotion. The police continue their investigation into the Prime Minister's advisors, facing challenges in obtaining testimony from the U.S.