PM's Advisor Admits Continuing Qatar Work Post-Oct. 7
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Yonatan Urich, a close advisor to the Prime Minister, admitted to investigators that he continued working for Qatari entities for months after the October 7th attacks, estimating the engagement extended to mid-to-late 2024. He stated he earned hundreds of thousands of shekels for the work, which aimed to improve Qatar's image. Urich denied that Prime Minister Netanyahu knew about his work for Qatar, while Netanyahu testified he had no knowledge of it. Urich justified his involvement by citing the participation of senior security figures.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister's advisor Yonatan Urich admitted continuing work for Qatar post-October 7th.
- Urich estimated his Qatari contract extended to mid-to-late 2024.
- He stated he received hundreds of thousands of shekels for the work.
- Urich claimed Prime Minister Netanyahu was unaware of his Qatari engagement.
- Netanyahu testified he had no knowledge of Urich working for Qatar.
- Urich cited involvement of senior security figures to justify his work.
Yonatan Urich, a close advisor to the Prime Minister, has admitted during questioning by Lahav 433 investigators that he continued working for Qatari entities for months after the October 7th Hamas attacks. Initially, Urich struggled to specify when his contract, aimed at improving Qatar's image, ended. When asked if the work continued after the war began, he confirmed it did, stating, "Certainly, not in Israel," but claimed he couldn't recall the exact date, estimating a range of "two months here or there." As investigators pressed him, Urich estimated the engagement extended well into the war year, suggesting "mid-to-late 2024," and that the project only concluded when he was informed by Sharulik Einhorn.
A significant portion of the investigation focused on the alleged compartmentalization of information from the Prime Minister and potential conflicts of interest. Investigators confronted Urich with the fact that he promoted Qatar's interests abroad while simultaneously being expected to echo Prime Minister Netanyahu's sharp criticism of the country, which hosts senior Hamas officials. "I don't report to the Prime Minister about things I do. There is a vast difference between what happens abroad and what happens in Israel," Urich stated during questioning. He added, "As an external consultant, I was never required to make a disclosure. The World Cup project didn't stop me from attacking Qatar from Israel."
Urich maintained that neither Netanyahu nor the Qataris were aware of his work for the other side. Investigators presented Urich with Netanyahu's testimony, in which the Prime Minister denied any knowledge of his advisor working for Qatar and stated it was "impossible" he received money from them. "That's between me and him," Urich responded. Regarding his compensation for the Qatari project, Urich stated it amounted to "hundreds of thousands of shekels," but could not provide an exact sum. He denied investigators' claims that he received payment for promoting Qatari interests after October 7th, calling the assertion "incorrect."
During the interrogation, Urich rejected the notion that his work contradicted Israeli policy. He justified his participation in the campaign by citing the involvement of senior security figures, including former Mossad officials and retired Major General Yoav (Poli) Mordechai, who serves as the deputy head of the hostage negotiation team. "I said I don't see a moral problem if these distinguished individuals are doing it," Urich claimed, concluding, "I didn't see a conflict here, I don't see a moral or professional problem with it."
