Netanyahu's Advisors Linked to Romanian Party With Antisemitic History
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political advisors, Yonatan Urich and Yisrael Einhorn, allegedly helped develop a campaign for the Romanian nationalist AUR party, known for antisemitic statements. A journalistic investigation revealed leaked correspondence detailing strategy and material preparation. The AUR party denied formal collaboration but confirmed receiving an offer for services. Both advisors are reportedly under investigation in Israel.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli PM Netanyahu's advisors Yonatan Urich and Yisrael Einhorn allegedly aided Romania's AUR party.
- The AUR party has a history of antisemitic statements and Holocaust denial.
- Leaked WhatsApp messages show strategy discussions and campaign material development.
- Proposed campaign materials appeared on official AUR social media pages.
- The AUR party denied formal collaboration but confirmed receiving a service offer.
- Both advisors are reportedly under investigation in Israel for other matters.
Political advisors to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yonatan Urich and Yisrael Einhorn, were involved in developing a campaign for the Romanian nationalist AUR party, whose leadership has a history of antisemitic statements and Holocaust denial. The findings were published on October 21 by the Romanian journalistic project Snoop, based on a leak of Urich's WhatsApp correspondence.
Investigators examined approximately 19,000 lines of messages, revealing discussions on AUR's political strategy, preparation of campaign materials, and arrangements for a meeting between Einhorn and AUR leader George Simion. According to the investigation, on August 31, Einhorn sent Urich a document with proposals for AUR's information campaign, receiving approval in return. He subsequently presented a detailed plan including social media posts, graphics, website articles, and a video script, aimed against Romania's President Nicușor Dan and the ruling coalition, using the slogan "120 days without a government."
Materials proposed by the Israeli consultants began appearing on official AUR pages and party representatives' social media as early as September 2. Einhorn also planned to meet Simion in Bucharest on September 14, later reporting to Urich that the meeting had taken place. Notably, a text prepared by Einhorn appeared on the Facebook page of AUR press secretary Ștefan Avrămescu about an hour after it was discussed in private messages on September 17.
The AUR party denied collaborating with Israeli consultants but confirmed receiving a service offer, stating no contract was signed. They could not explain how texts discussed in Urich and Einhorn's private correspondence appeared in official AUR publications. Snoop recalled that in 2022, the Israeli Embassy in Romania and the Elie Wiesel National Institute for Holocaust Studies criticized AUR for downplaying the Holocaust and for justifying the ultranationalist, antisemitic Legionary Movement.
Urich and Einhorn are reportedly under investigation in Israel for various matters, including the alleged promotion of Qatar's interests in the "Qatargate" affair. Einhorn is currently abroad, with an arrest warrant issued for him in Israel. Neither Urich nor Einhorn responded to the Romanian journalists' inquiries. The Snoop investigation was also published on the HotNews website.
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