Netanyahu Aide Asked ChatGPT How to Improve Qatar's Image During War

Yonatan Urich, an advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a figure in the "Qatargate" investigation, inquired with ChatGPT in September 2024 about strategies to improve Qatar's public image. This was revealed by Channel 12, citing excerpts from Urich's interrogation.

Urich, a close associate of Netanyahu, had previously claimed his work for Qatar was limited to the period before the 2022 FIFA World Cup and occurred while Netanyahu was in opposition. However, investigators presented Urich with his September 2024 ChatGPT correspondence, which occurred during the ongoing war with Hamas. The queries included requests for "strategic plans to change global public opinion" about Qatar and specific ideas to "launder Qatar's image" by targeting Israeli citizens, global Jewish communities, and U.S. opinion leaders.

Despite the evidence, Urich maintained he had no specific recollection of the ChatGPT queries, stating he asks the chatbot about various topics and had not acted in Qatar's interests within Israel. He later commented on social media that the leaked interrogation fragment was a year old and that journalists had previously been aware of his ChatGPT usage without finding it significant, as he had not acted upon it.

Opposition leaders sharply criticized Netanyahu following the report. Gadi Eisenkot called Urich a "Qatari agent" operating within the Prime Minister's office and demanded Netanyahu dismiss him. Avigdor Lieberman vowed to remove the "Qatari office in Jerusalem" and launch a state investigation into the Prime Minister's office for alleged treason.

Einav Tsangauker, mother of a released hostage, expressed outrage that while her son suffered in captivity, Urich was allegedly working to improve the image of Qatar, which finances Hamas. Shir Matias, whose parents were killed on October 7, questioned Netanyahu's continued support for Urich, stating that Urich's alleged work aimed to "launder the image of those who financed the murderers of my parents."

The "Qatargate" investigation suspects that several Netanyahu associates received payments from Qatar between 2022 and 2024 for PR services and promoting its interests, including during the war. Suspicions include contacts with an enemy state, financial offenses, and violations of public service norms. Urich and others are suspected of disseminating pro-Qatar messages to the media, downplaying Qatar's role as Hamas financier while emphasizing its mediation role, and diminishing Egypt's importance in hostage negotiations.