PM Netanyahu’s Advisor Yotam Orich Sues Israel Hayom Over Qatar Espionage Allegations

Yotam Orich, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sent a legal warning letter to the newspaper Israel Hayom, threatening to sue over a recent article accusing him and other advisors of leaking classified security information to Qatar. The article, published on Sunday, cited an anonymous "security source" claiming that Orich, along with advisors Shrulik Einhorn and Eli Feldstein, passed sensitive intelligence from security discussions about Egypt to Qatar. According to the report, Qatar allegedly used this information to influence Israeli public discourse and strengthen its position in hostage negotiations.

Orich vehemently denied the allegations, calling them "a complete lie" and equating the claims to an act of treason. His lawyers, Amit Hadad and Noa Milstein, emphasized that the accusations were made without any factual verification and demanded a prominent apology from Israel Hayom, matching the size and placement of the original headline. They also warned of a substantial damages lawsuit, arguing the false report was intended to defame Orich and harm Netanyahu's circle.

The letter further stated that Orich had never been questioned or investigated regarding such suspicions, and criticized the use of an anonymous source to justify the publication. It highlighted that political opponents, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Golan, had leveraged the article to attack the government, even suggesting the allegations amounted to treason against Israel.

Israel Hayom was given a deadline until Tuesday at 10 a.m. to respond and was instructed to preserve all raw materials, drafts, and correspondence related to the article in anticipation of legal proceedings. The dispute underscores the heightened political tensions surrounding Netanyahu’s administration and the sensitive nature of Israel-Qatar relations amid ongoing regional security concerns.