Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav "Poly" Mordechai Questioned Under Caution in Qatar-Linked Bribery Affair

Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav (Poly) Mordechai, former IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), was questioned under caution over a month ago in connection with a high-profile bribery investigation involving suspected illegal dealings with the Qatari government, Channel 13 reported.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Mordechai continues to serve in a senior reserve role within Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon’s hostage recovery command, a position he has held since the outbreak of the war. His ongoing role in the IDF prompted an unusual public statement from the military, emphasizing his "significant and at times critical" contribution to efforts to retrieve hostages from Gaza.

After retiring from active duty seven years ago, Mordechai became a partner and director in "Novard", a private firm established shortly before his arrival. The company—reportedly co-founded with a former senior Mossad official—has represented major Israeli defense contractors, including Rafael, Elbit, and Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), in unofficial negotiations with Qatar, a country with which Israel has no formal diplomatic ties.

According to allegations raised in recent months, foreign shell companies were used to facilitate defense transactions and to channel payments, including one reportedly transferred to Yonatan Urich, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The growing investigation, dubbed "Qatar-gate", is examining suspicions that Netanyahu’s close associates advanced Qatari interests during and prior to the ongoing war. Alongside Urich, others implicated include:

• Eli Feldstein, Netanyahu's former spokesman, currently under house arrest for a related classified documents case.

• Srulik (Israel) Einhorn, another former advisor to Netanyahu, who is wanted for questioning in Israel.

The range of potential charges against the individuals involved includes bribery, contact with a foreign agent, breach of trust, tax violations, and money laundering.

The unnamed former Mossad officer, closely linked to Mordechai and Novard, is also under investigation for bribery, foreign agent contact, and financial misconduct.

IDF Spokesperson Issues Rare Statement

In a rare move, the IDF spokesperson addressed the affair, clarifying Mordechai’s continuing role in reserve service despite the ongoing criminal inquiry:

“Without referring to the external investigation, Maj. Gen. Mordechai continues to serve under the Hostage Recovery Command. He is not involved in direct negotiations with intermediaries. His professional stance has been courageous, impartial, and extremely impactful to the mission.”

The Qatar-gate scandal adds a new layer of complexity to the political and military challenges facing Israel during a protracted conflict in Gaza. The scandal intersects sensitive defense matters, hostage negotiations, and the credibility of high-ranking figures in both government and the security establishment.

As investigations deepen, pressure is mounting on both the political echelon and defense officials to address potential conflicts of interest and restore public trust in national decision-making processes during wartime.