Netanyahu slated to testify after election on ties to Qatar in defamation suit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to testify later this year regarding Israel's relationship with Qatar as part of a defamation lawsuit. Netanyahu is suing several prominent figures, including Yigal Carmon, head of MEMRI, for publicly alleging that his Likud party received funds from Qatar. The lawsuit against Carmon has progressed to the evidence-presenting stage, and a judge has requested Netanyahu's testimony after the October 27 elections, with dates in November and December being considered. Carmon is being sued for publishing unproven documents purporting to show Qatari payments to Likud and Yisrael Beytenu, and for stating that Netanyahu "went with the enemy and collaborated with Qatar." Netanyahu maintains these allegations are false and part of a "witch hunt" against him, especially as scrutiny over his ties to Qatar intensified following the October 7 onslaught and investigations into his aides' alleged pro-Qatari public relations campaign.