Netanyahu Aide Sues Newspaper Over Classified Leak Allegations

Yonatan Uriach, an advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has filed a NIS 260,000 defamation lawsuit against journalist Bini Ashkenazi and the newspaper Israel Hayom. The suit stems from a published report alleging that Uriach transferred classified information to Qatar intended to harm Egypt. Uriach vehemently denies the claims, calling the report "false, serious, and baseless," and stating it falsely portrayed him as having passed classified Israeli security discussion information to Qatar.

The article in question appeared on August 9th on Israel Hayom's website and in its print edition, under the headline: "Security Source Claims: PM's Advisors Leaked Classified Information to Qataris to 'Sully' Egypt." The report was prominently featured on the newspaper's front page.

Uriach had previously denied the allegations in a response to Israel Hayom, calling it a "complete lie" published by "political rivals during an election campaign." He asserted he had "never attended a classified discussion and never provided any information, not even classified, to anyone in the world."

Separately, the State Prosecutor's Office announced it would indict Uriach for transmitting and possessing secret information, and destroying evidence in the "Bild affair," a case linked to QatarGate. The indictment will include a charge that the transfer was intended to harm state security, a decision made after Uriach's arguments were rejected in a hearing.

In addition to financial damages, Uriach is seeking a court order for Israel Hayom to remove the offending publication from its website and to publish a correction and apology. No defense has yet been filed in the defamation case.