Netanyahu Advisor Jonathan Orich Denies Israel Hayom Claims of Leaking Classified Security Information to Qatar

Jonathan Orich, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sent a stern legal warning to the newspaper Israel Hayom through his lawyers Amit Hadad and Noa Milstein. The letter threatens a lawsuit following a report published by the paper alleging that Orich, along with fellow advisors Sarulik Einhorn and Eli Feldstein, passed classified security information from sensitive discussions about Egypt to Qatar. The report cited an anonymous "security source" as its basis.

Orich's legal team categorically denied the accusations, calling them false, severe, and baseless, equating the claims to an act of treason. They stated that Orich never shared classified information or participated in such activities and described the allegations as a deliberate attempt to defame him and harm Netanyahu's circle. The lawyers criticized Israel Hayom for publishing the story without minimal factual verification or giving Orich a chance to respond.

The letter also highlighted that the use of an anonymous "security source" does not justify the false report, emphasizing a significant discrepancy between the alleged facts and the headline accusations. It noted that the article quickly became a political weapon used by Netanyahu's opponents, including public figures like Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Golan, who cited the report to accuse the government of apparent betrayal.

Orich demands that Israel Hayom immediately cease spreading these claims, publish a prominent apology matching the original headline's size and placement, and preserve all raw materials, drafts, and correspondence for potential legal proceedings. The newspaper was given a deadline to respond by 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. Orich also announced on his X (formerly Twitter) account that he had filed the legal warning and intends to pursue significant damages for the harm caused to his reputation.

The original Israel Hayom report claimed that the leaked information was used by Qatar to influence Israeli public discourse by portraying Egypt negatively, thereby strengthening Qatar's role as a key mediator in hostage negotiations.