Netanyahu Aide Admits Meeting Qatari Official During War
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Yonatan Urich, an advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, admitted in an investigation to meeting a senior Qatari official, Ali Al-Thawadi, in Europe during the war. At least two meetings occurred in July 2024, with one in Berlin reportedly attended by lobbyist Jay Pootlik, whom Urich denies meeting. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated he was unaware of these meetings. Urich also previously asked ChatGPT to develop a strategy to improve Qatar's image, though he denied promoting Qatar's interests in Israel.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu's advisor, Yonatan Urich, admitted to meeting a senior Qatari official during the war.
- Urich met Ali Al-Thawadi in Europe in July 2024, approximately nine months after the war began.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu stated he was unaware of Urich's meetings with the Qatari official.
- Urich denied knowing or meeting lobbyist Jay Pootlik, who reportedly attended one meeting.
- Urich previously used ChatGPT to generate a plan to improve Qatar's image.
Yonatan Urich, an advisor and confidant to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, admitted during an investigation that he met with Ali Al-Thawadi, a senior Qatari official, during the ongoing war. According to Channel 12 News, at least two meetings took place in Europe in July 2024, approximately nine months after the war began. One meeting in Berlin was reportedly attended by Sharulik Einhorn and lobbyist Jay Pootlik. Urich had previously denied knowing Pootlik or meeting him.
The meetings were reportedly not part of any official diplomatic mission for Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in his own investigation that he was unaware of these contacts, and Urich had never discussed Qatar with him, his business dealings there, or these meetings with Al-Thawadi.
Al-Thawadi is the same Qatari official who later attended a White House meeting where Netanyahu was reportedly asked to apologize for an Israeli strike against Hamas leadership in Doha. During his May 19, 2025, investigation by Lahav 433, Urich was confronted with testimony from a former senior Mossad official, identified only as 'S.', who stated that Urich and Einhorn met Al-Thawadi at least twice and presented ideas. Urich did not deny the testimony but claimed he had difficulty remembering the meetings and their content, stating, "I barely remember one."
Urich denied meeting with Pootlik, a lobbyist who worked for Qatar, even though Pootlik reportedly attended the Berlin meeting. Urich has consistently denied knowing Pootlik or meeting him, including in an April investigation and in response to the recent report. He did not address the meetings with Al-Thawadi in his response.
Earlier this week, it was reported that in September 2024, Urich asked ChatGPT to develop a strategic plan to improve Qatar's image, including messaging for the Israeli public, global Jewish communities, and US opinion leaders. During his investigation, Urich denied acting to promote Qatar's interests in Israel, stating, "I did not act and did nothing for Qatar in Israel, not with the Israeli media, not with Israeli citizens, nor with the Prime Minister." He acknowledged using ChatGPT but claimed the outputs were not used.
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