Outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea reportedly said in recent meetings that alleged ties between some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office staff and Qatar did not seem to have harmed national security or hostage deal negotiations — putting him at odds with former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who has called the affair a serious security threat.

Barnea, whose term ends in June, made the comments in recent meetings with journalists, the Haaretz newspaper reported Monday.

The Mossad chief stressed in the meetings that his opinion only addressed the security aspect of the so-called Qatargate affair, and that he would not opine on the potential corruption involved because he was not familiar with the specifics of the investigation, Haaretz said.

Barnea’s reported comments stood in contrast to the position of Bar, whom the government voted to fire in March 2025. Critics, including Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, have alleged that Bar’s dismissal was tainted by severe procedural flaws, as well as political and personal considerations, including the Qatargate investigation into Netanyahu’s advisers.

In a High Court affidavit a........

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