Prime Minister Netanyahu Advisor Yonatan Urich Arrested Again in Qatar Influence Case

Yonatan Urich, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was arrested late Wednesday night for a second time in the unfolding Qatar influence affair, as suspicions mount over improper ties between Israeli officials and foreign interests.

Urich was interrogated for four hours by the Israel Police's Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit. During questioning, investigators presented him with correspondence allegedly exchanged with Eli Feldstein, Netanyahu’s spokesperson and another key suspect in the case. Despite being told he would be released — with his wife even arriving to pick him up — police reversed course and placed him under arrest again in what is being described as a highly unusual procedural move.

Police are expected to request an extension of his detention in a hearing scheduled later today at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court. Urich’s two-week house arrest, previously ordered by the District Court, expired this morning.

Serious Charges and Growing Legal Complexity

Urich faces multiple serious allegations including:

• Contact with a foreign agent

• Accepting bribes

• Passing on confidential information

• Money laundering

• Fraud and breach of trust

• Obstruction of justice

Judge Amit Michalis previously extended Urich’s house arrest after reviewing a confidential report detailing ongoing investigative steps related to both him and Feldstein. That report reportedly referenced a financial connection — referred to as the “money axis” — between the suspects and external actors.

Focus: Favorable Media for Qatar

The investigation centers on suspicions that Urich and Feldstein maintained improper business ties with Qatari officials and allegedly worked to influence Israeli public opinion during sensitive hostage negotiations. According to Channels 13 and 11, the suspects were asked to promote narratives favorable to Qatar and hostile to Egypt’s role as a mediator.

Among the alleged messages pushed:

• Egypt enabled Hamas’s October 7 attack by allowing smuggling operations

• Israel had requested Qatar host Hamas leaders and facilitate financial transfers to Gaza

• Qatar is strategically important to Israel, including for potential air routes in a military campaign against Iran

The suspects allegedly worked to disseminate these narratives through Israeli media, despite their official government roles.

Ties to Previous PR Campaign for Qatar

Urich’s links to Qatar first surfaced in a Haaretz investigation in November 2023, which reported that he and Israeli political consultant Israel Einhorn had prepared a marketing campaign to polish Qatar’s global image ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The effort was carried out via Einhorn’s consulting firm Perception, in collaboration with another Israeli firm, Coios.

While both Urich and Perception have denied wrongdoing, new leads have emerged in the case. U.S.-based lobbyist Jay Potlik, who is suspected of employing Feldstein to promote Qatar’s interests, is also expected to be questioned. However, no date has been set, reportedly due to coordination issues with U.S. law enforcement. Potlik’s lawyer, Uri Korev, traveled to the U.S. last week to consult him.

Shin Bet Chief: National Security at Risk

The head of the Shin Bet internal security agency, Ronen Bar, has weighed in on the gravity of the affair. In a sworn affidavit submitted to Israel’s High Court of Justice in response to petitions against his dismissal, Bar stated that the case poses “very serious suspicions of harm to state security.” He cited concerns over potential damage to hostage negotiations, the strengthening of Hamas, and the undermining of relations with Egypt.

Bar emphasized that even the suspicion that individuals employed by a state known to support Hamas could influence Israeli decision-making must be fully investigated. He also included a confidential appendix for the court’s review, detailing classified aspects of the probe.

Bar warned that the timing of his dismissal sends “a chilling message to the organization and law enforcement agencies,” and stressed the importance of protecting state secrets shared among the Prime Minister’s inner circle.