Gadi Eizenkot’s Advisor Linked to Qatari Firms Amid Hypocrisy Claims

Gadi Eizenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff and current leader of the Yisrael party, has sharply criticized associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for receiving payments from Qatar, calling the Gulf state "hostile" due to its funding of Hamas. However, a report by Channel 14 reveals that Eizenkot’s own campaign advisor, Amir Adaki, was formerly a senior figure at Perception, a consulting firm that provided services to Qatari clients.

In addition, attorney Yossi Benkel, who has also worked with Qatari entities, recently posted a 100,000 shekel bail for Eizenkot. This raises questions about Eizenkot’s consistency, as he condemns Netanyahu’s circle for ties to Qatar while seemingly relying on individuals connected to Qatari interests himself.

Eizenkot’s campaign responded that Amir Adaki is an independent freelance creative director who was never an employee or partner at Perception and was not involved in any "Qatargate" scandal. They contrasted this with Jonathan Orich, a Perception partner who worked directly with Qatar during wartime, accusing Netanyahu of embracing him despite national security concerns.

The campaign emphasized their focus on winning the upcoming 2026 elections and bringing change to Israel, asserting that Adaki and other former Likud campaign staff joined Yisrael after the October 7 attacks out of conscience. They also accused the Likud campaign of hysteria over Yisrael’s rising success and vowed to prevent Netanyahu from normalizing or downplaying the recent security failures under his leadership.

This controversy highlights the complex and sensitive nature of political alliances and accusations surrounding Qatar’s influence in Israeli politics ahead of the 2026 elections.