Haim Levinson, a veteran Israeli journalist, has been dismissed from Haaretz after revelations that he earned at least 200,000 Israeli shekels (approx. $61,000) from Jisrael “Srulik” Ajnhorn, a consultant and close associate of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu implicated in the ongoing Katargate scandal.
According to Haaretz, Levinson was engaged between 2019 and 2024 by Perception, Ajnhorn’s consultancy firm, to produce campaign materials for electoral operations in the Balkans, where Ajnhorn acted as advisor to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. During part of this period, Levinson also served as Haaretz’s political correspondent, creating a potential conflict of interest.
Levinson publicly admitted on social media that he accepted freelance work for Perception, acknowledging it as a “serious mistake” but denying any work for Qatar, despite previous reporting linking Ajnhorn to Katargate operations allegedly benefiting Doha. He described his decision as financially motivated: after 20 years of journalism without a raise, he sought a better-paying freelance opportunity and began working on Balkan campaigns without considering the ethical implications.
Levinson outlined his role in Serbia: editing content, analyzing polls, and crafting messages on pensions, education, health, and social issues, while ensuring his involvement remained undisclosed to avoid conflicts with his journalistic duties.
The case has sparked concern over foreign influence in Serbian politics, highlighting Vučić’s close connections with consultants involved in international electoral strategies. Observers note that the lack of transparency and oversight raises questions about the integrity of Serbian campaigns and the potential manipulation of public opinion.
The Katargate scandal, in which Ajnhorn is implicated, involves propaganda campaigns intended to improve Qatar’s image internationally, with suspected financial and political entanglements affecting Israeli and Balkan operations. Levinson emphasized that his work was strictly professional for Ajnhorn and he had no knowledge of any Qatar-related activities, calling his involvement “a misjudgment, not a criminal act.”
Levinson’s case illustrates the complex interplay between journalism, political consulting, and international influence, raising fresh concerns about Vučić’s reliance on external advisors and the potential manipulation of Balkan elections.
