Netanyahu Aide Sues Activist Over Leaked Phone Data
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's advisor, Yonatan Urich, has filed a NIS 1 million lawsuit against activist Itay Lashem over leaked private phone data. A court issued an interim order against Lashem, who claims the leak was a self-orchestrated "influence operation." The case highlights a dispute over privacy violations versus alleged political manipulation, with a hearing set for November 3. Netanyahu stated Urich had no access to classified information.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Yonatan Urich, advisor to PM Netanyahu, sued activist Itay Lashem for NIS 1 million over leaked phone data.
- A court issued an interim order against Lashem, prohibiting him from publishing Urich's private information.
- Lashem claims the leak was a self-orchestrated "influence operation" by Urich for political gain.
- Urich's lawyers allege a severe violation of privacy and media extortion by Lashem.
- A hearing on November 3 will address the balance between privacy breach and influence operation claims.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu stated Urich had no access to classified information.
A legal battle has erupted over leaked private information from the mobile phone of Yonatan Urich, a close advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A Jerusalem Magistrate's Court judge issued an interim order against former lawyer and activist Itay Lashem, prohibiting him from publishing or using any materials obtained from Urich's phone. The order came after Urich filed a NIS 1 million lawsuit against Lashem, alleging that unknown individuals had breached his phone and accessed an unprecedented amount of personal and confidential data.
According to the lawsuit, Lashem received a file containing records of 107 calls and nearly 19,000 WhatsApp messages from Urich's phone. Lashem subsequently published parts of this content on social media and created a dedicated website, despite receiving stern warning letters. Urich is represented by lawyers Amit Hadad, Noa Milstein, and Liat Mor Yosef.
Lashem, however, presents a counter-narrative, claiming the data leak was not a criminal cyber breach but a "influence operation" orchestrated by Urich himself in anticipation of elections. Lashem alleges Urich connected his WhatsApp to an external service in Dubai, established a monitoring system, and fabricated a story of a security lapse to selectively leak information that supports his and Netanyahu's political agenda.
While Urich and his legal team view Lashem's actions as a severe violation of privacy and media extortion, Lashem dismisses the lawsuit as a "spin and a joke" intended to divert attention. He asserts that the published materials reveal Urich's problematic connections with foreign entities and influence operations aimed at manipulating the Israeli public.
The court is scheduled to hold a hearing on November 3 to decide on the delicate balance between criminal breach of privacy and claims of influence operations within Israeli politics. The leak first gained public attention when Urich's lawyers sent warning letters to other activists who published the material, including Guy Larar, host of the program "Ha'Tzinor," who received a letter for publishing a graph allegedly showing incorrect rating data for his show.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of a heated election campaign. Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed Urich's connections with Qatar in a television interview, stating that his advisor did not have access to classified information or attend security meetings, as he was "outside the door" and not briefed on security matters.
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