PM's Advisors' Communications Contradict Claims of Ignorance on Qatar Project
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
New communications indicate Prime Minister Netanyahu's advisor Yonatan Urich was aware of a project to promote Qatar, contradicting his claims of ignorance. The messages show Urich was briefed on efforts by fellow advisors Eli Feldstein and Shlomo Einhorn to shape a pro-Qatari narrative after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination. Businessman Gil Birger, who funded the project, also communicated with Feldstein about leveraging the story. The reporting suggests the same source provided information to both the Prime Minister's office and Qatari officials.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Communications suggest PM advisor Yonatan Urich knew about a pro-Qatar messaging project.
- Urich claimed ignorance of work by advisors Eli Feldstein and Shlomo Einhorn.
- The project involved shaping a narrative about Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's burial.
- Businessman Gil Birger funded the messaging project and communicated with Feldstein.
- The same source reportedly provided information to the PM's office and Qatari officials.
New communications revealed by legal correspondent Avishai Grinzaig suggest that Yonatan Urich, an advisor to Prime Minister Netanyahu, was aware of and involved in a project to promote Qatar's image. Urich had previously claimed he was unaware of the work done by fellow advisors Eli Feldstein and Shlomo Einhorn to advance pro-Qatari messages.
The correspondence, dated August 1, 2024, discusses the formulation of a pro-Qatari message following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Einhorn and Feldstein were reportedly working to promote the narrative that the United States had requested Qatar bury Haniyeh on its territory rather than in Iran, and that Doha had agreed. Feldstein updated Urich on these details hours before the story was published, stating, "The Hassid (Einhorn) and I are doing something problematic today. Just so you know."
Urich then spoke with Feldstein via WhatsApp and was briefed on the specifics. After the story broke, Feldstein sent Urich a link to the article, to which Urich responded with pleasantries. Separately, a communication was revealed between businessman Gil Birger, who funded the pro-Qatari messaging project, and Feldstein. Birger shared a Kan 11 report about the US request to Qatar regarding Haniyeh's burial and urged to "leverage" it. Feldstein replied that it was his work, stating, "We made this move. We built this all day."
Kan 11 reportedly cross-referenced details received from the Prime Minister's office with Qatari sources, who confirmed the information. It was later discovered that the Qatari source and the source within the Israeli Prime Minister's office were the same.
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