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Jonatan Urich

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jonatan Urich
יונתן אוריך
CitizenshipIsrael
OccupationsNetanyahu spokesperson, IDF spokesperson, Kipa, Makor Rishon

Jonatan Urich (Hebrew: יונתן אוריך) is a strategic advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He previously served as Netanyahu’s spokesman, as director of new media, and as a spokesperson for the Likud movement.

Biography

[edit]

Urich was born in Kfar Saba. His father, Edward (Edi), was originally from Poland, while his mother was religious.[1] He grew up in a religious household and attended the Bar-Ilan religious state school in the city. During his youth, he was a member of the Bnei Akiva movement and the Realistic Religious Zionism movement.[2] Urich studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion. He was drafted to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit and was the editor of the IDF website for 5 years. After his military service, he was appointed as the editor of the Judaism section at the NRG site, and was a reporter for Makor Rishon.[3]

He previously served as Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman,[4][5][6] as director of new media, and as a spokesperson for the Likud movement.[7][8]

[edit]

Urich, Yisrael Einhorn, and Ofer Golan, all of whom were advisors to Netanyahu, were investigated in 2019 on charges of witness intimidation.[9]

In November 2024, reports emerged that Urich and Einhorn were involved in public relations efforts to improve Qatar's image ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[10]

He was questioned the same month on suspicion of telling Eli Feldstein to send classified material to Einhorn, who sent it to the German newspaper Bild.[11]

In February 2025, Israeli Channel 12 stated that Urich ,along with Feldstein, was employed by a Qatar-funded international firm, The Third Circle (which was owned by Jay Footlik), to promote Doha's image in Israel, particularly highlighting Qatar's role in mediating hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas. It was mentioned that the company sought to influence media coverage in Israel through direct and indirect means.[12]

In the same month, Attorney General of Israel Gali Baharav-Miara instructed the Shin Bet security agency and the Israel Police to investigate the allegations, marking the official launch of the "Qatargate" investigation.[13]

Urich was arrested on 31 March 2025,[14] and his arrest was extended by the magistrate court in Petah Tikva on 4 April until 7 April 2025.[15] Urich is suspected of multiple offenses, including contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering.[16]

He was released to house arrest on 7 April,[17] which ended in May 2025.[18] The security restrictions that were in place would have lapsed on 18 August, after the magistrate court ruled on 14 August that the police did not "produce evidence" that would meet the threshold indicating that Urich was a "public servant."[19] The police appealed the decision on 17 August,[20] which was accepted by Lod district court judge Amit Michles on 19 August. The restrictions against Urich will remain until 10 September.[21] Urich was called for questioning by Lahav 433, which took place on 20 August.[22]

The Israeli police requested in September that the magistrate court not allow Urich to work in the prime minister's office,[23] though the request was denied.[24] The police appealed on 12 September to the Lod District Court.[25] The district court accepted the appeal on 18 September, preventing Urich from working in the prime minister's office, or contacting anyone else involved in Qatargate, and marks the fifth time that Michles has overturned a Qatargate-related decision by the Rishon LeZion Magistrate Court.[26] Urich's legal team appealed to the High Court of Justice on 5 October 2025.[27] Amit Michles of the Lod District court, on 25 October 2025, allowed Urich to work with the Likud party, though the ban on working with the prime minister's office remains in place.[28]

The police called for Urich to be barred from working with the Prime Minister's Office and Netanyahu; Urich was questioned on 19 January "on suspicion of obstructing the investigation" into the document leak.[29] The following Sunday, Urich was restricted by the Lod District Court from working with Netanyahu until March.[30] Police sought to keep the contact ban and the travel ban in place in March, pending a hearing later in the month.[31] The Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court ruled that while Urich may not work at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), he can contact the prime minister, but is unable to discuss on the ongoing investigation with him.[32] Urich was given access to the PMO in early May 2026.[33]

Baharav-Miara suspended the witness intimidation case in May 2026, as Einhorn could not be extradited.[34]

Baharav-Miara and Amit Aisman, the head of the state attorney's office, announced in late May that their office intended to indict Urich in the classified documents case.[35] Urich was indicted in June 2026 for "transmitting classified information with the intent to harm state security."[36] The prosecution requested that Urich be barred from working in the PMO, that he be prohibited from working in a secure facility, and that he have no contact with other people involved in the case.[37] The judge in the case, Ala Masarwa of the Tel Aviv District court, ruled on 25 June that Urich may work with Netanyahu.[38]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ כהן, ישראל (9 January 2018). "ראש הממשלה ורעייתו ניחמו את היועץ הדתי על פטירת אביו ז"ל". כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  2. ↑ "חדשות - פולמוס nrg - קחו את הרבנות ותנו את המדרחוב". Makor Rishon. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  3. ↑ "הכוורת של נתניהו והשיטות: "בדרך להצלת המנהיג אין גבולות"".
  4. ↑ שניידר, טל (2 July 2019). ""תעשה טובה ותישאר בטוויטר": נתניהו משיב לקמפיין של ברק". Globes. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "בנט יוצא במתקפה חריפה נגד החברותא שלו - בחדרי חרדים". www.bhol.co.il (in Hebrew). 4 July 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "לפיד לעג לברק; דוברו של נתניהו נחלץ לעזרה". סרוגים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  7. ↑ שניידר, טל (24 June 2019). "ליברמן: נתניהו מכשיר ממשלה צרה בתמיכת ערבים מבחוץ". Globes. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "גנץ: "רה"מ לחץ על כפתור פיזור הכנסת ואין דרך חזרה"". Maariv (in Hebrew). 26 June 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  9. ↑ Starr, Michael (21 June 2023). "Three Netanyahu advisors indicted for intimidating witness in PM's trial". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "Report: Netanyahu aides led PR campaign to boost Qatar's image ahead of 2022 World Cup". The Times of Israel. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  11. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy (21 November 2024). "Netanyahu aide charged with harming state security in leaked document case, could face life term". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Bandel, Netael (1 April 2025). "'Qatargate' affair: Netanyahu aides accused of spreading paid Qatari propaganda during war". Ynet. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  13. ↑ "PMO leaks suspect did PR for Qatar while working for Netanyahu, report claims". The Times of Israel. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  14. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy; Summers, Charlie (31 March 2025). "Netanyahu testifies in Qatargate probe after police summons, as top aides arrested". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  15. ↑ Bandel, Netael (4 April 2025). "Court orders Netanyahu aides to house arrest in Qatargate probe, slams police conduct". Ynet. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  16. ↑ ToI Staff (4 April 2025). "Qatargate: Judge says PM's aide Urich stays in detention, Feldstein released to house arrest". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  17. ↑ ToI Staff (7 April 2025). "PM's aide Urich released to house arrest; Herzog: Qatargate must be 'deeply probed'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  18. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (21 May 2025). "Judge ends Qatargate suspect Urich's house arrest, police can appeal decision". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  19. ↑ "Court lifts restrictions on PM's aide suspected in Qatargate scandal". The Times of Israel. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  20. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (15 August 2025). "Police appeal Magistrate Court's decision to allow Urich to meet with PM". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  21. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (19 August 2025). "'Qatargate': Urich's conditions extended to September, judge accepts police appeal". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  22. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (20 August 2025). "'Qatargate': Netanyahu confidant Urich investigated by police". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  23. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy (10 September 2025). "Police ask to bar Qatargate suspect Urich from PM's Office for another 60 days". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  24. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (11 September 2025). "Police fail in request to extend measures against Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  25. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (14 September 2025). "'Qatargate': Police appeal court decision to allow Urich to return to Netanyahu's office". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  26. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy (18 September 2025). "Court extends ban on key Qatargate suspect from returning to Prime Minister's Office". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  27. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (5 October 2025). "Qatargate: Urich's lawyers appeal to High Court against occupation ban, working at PMO". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  28. ↑ "Judge allows Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich to work with Likud, maintains ban on PMO role". The Jerusalem Post. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  29. ↑ "Israel Police seek to bar Netanyahu aide Urich from PM's office amid Bild leak probe". The Jerusalem Post. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  30. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy (25 January 2026). "Judge bars Netanyahu aide Urich from PM's office until March over Qatargate, Bild suspicions". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  31. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (2 March 2026). "Police seek to extend restrictions on Netanyahu adviser Yonatan Urich in 'Qatargate' probe". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  32. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (3 March 2026). "'Bild' leak case: Court extends Urich restrictions, clarifies can speak to PM, but not about probe". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  33. ↑ "Shin Bet quietly reverses ban on Urich accessing Prime Minister's Office – report". The Times of Israel. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  34. ↑ "AG suspends case against Netanyahu aides accused of harassing key witness in PM's trial". The Times of Israel. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  35. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (28 May 2026). "A-G to indict Netanyahu adviser Yonatan Urich in classified-documents affair, evidence destruction". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  36. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy (11 June 2026). "Netanyahu aide Urich charged with leaking classified info with intent to harm state security". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  37. ↑ Bandel, Netael (11 June 2026). "Netanyahu adviser indicted for leaking classified intelligence to foreign media". Ynet. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  38. ↑ Sharon, Jeremy (25 June 2026). "Court rules Netanyahu aide can return to work despite indictment over leaked documents". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
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