Political implosion gathers pace -- "Israel is entering an era of dictatorship"

Conflicts Forum’s compilation tracking strategic developments in Israel, 19 February 2025

• ‘Qatar-gate’: As Shin Bet investigates Qatar-linked corruption in the PM’s office, Netanyahu expediates moves to dismiss Shin Bet Director

• Law & Order Collapsing – “The Police have disintegrated. Crime figures are at an all-time high”

• ‘Israel is now a Borderline Dictatorial State’

• Netanyahu weakened as Witkoff forces his hand on Phase Two

• For second time in two weeks, Team Trump saves Netanyahu’s Coalition from collapse

[These compilations are drawn from analysis & commentary by leading Israeli political and security commentators, predominantly published in Hebrew — as reports published in Hebrew often provide a different window on Israeli internal discourse]

‘Qatar-Gate’: The Shin Bet confirmed on 15 Feb that it had begun a comprehensive investigation following allegations of security offences committed by senior officials in Netanyahu’s office who were allegedly also working for Qatar. In parallel, Netanyahu has removed the Shin Bet head, Ronen Bar, from the Ceasefire negotiating team, and made insinuations for his dismissal. Channel 12 reports that officials in the PM’s office were recruited by Qatar in the midst of the war to also assist it with a lawsuit being brought by families of the hostages.

What they’re saying 1: The conspiracies surrounding Netanyahu & Qatar are overwhelming (Yossi Verter, Haaretz):

… It was not known that the Qataris were so invested here. And we're probably still far from knowing the full story ... The stench reaches the heavens. Never before has there been a PMO in Israel inhabited by such dubious types, who constantly rub shoulders with illegality. The Qatari intelligence services managed to penetrate the heart of the PMO's aquarium and employ the people closest to Netanyahu with access to state secrets. You don't need to imagine what the previous opposition would have done if PM Bennett's or Lapid's advisers had turned out to be two-faced spokesmen.