Yonatan Urich, senior aide and personal media adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, met at least twice in July 2024 with senior Qatari official Ali al-Thawadi, N12 reported on Wednesday, citing testimony Urich gave to Lahav 433 in May 2025.
One of the meetings with Thawadi, described by N12 as one of Qatar’s most powerful figures and a close associate of its emir, reportedly included Urich’s business partner, Yisrael “Srulik” Einhorn, and lobbyist Jay Footlik, whom Urich has previously denied knowing or meeting.
During his questioning, investigators asked Urich about testimony from a former senior Mossad official identified as S., who alleged that he and Einhorn had met Thawadi - referred to as “head of the Israel project” - at least twice
“According to S.’s testimony, there were two meetings with Thawadi at which you and Srulik presented your ideas. What happened there?” an investigator asked, to which Urich stated he did not remember presenting anything at any meetings.
He did not, however, accuse S. of lying; instead, he insisted he didn’t remember and needed to “jog his memory.”
Urich’s stance did not change during the exchange; he said he could not remember where or when any alleged meetings took place.
When the investigator specified that the meetings with Thawadi took place after October 7, Urich responded: “If you say so.”
According to N12, the meetings were not part of an official assignment on behalf of Israel, and Netanyahu previously testified that Urich had never disclosed his ties to Qatar or the meetings with Thawadi.
Urich confirmed his phone was hacked, says leakers will 'pay full price'
The latest update to Urich’s testimony came days after he revealed that his WhatsApp account had been hacked and promised that the people who leaked his private conversations would "pay the full price."
"Whoever hacked into Yonatan Urich's WhatsApp and published personal correspondence while adding and changing the conversations will pay the full price," Urich said in a message shared on X.
"This will also happen to anyone who publishes, distributes, or shares messages. Whoever does so commits a criminal offense, and a personal lawsuit will be filed against them," he warned.
According to Israeli media reports, the leaked messages included several conversations between Urich and his contacts in which he discussed politics, law, journalism, and political consulting.
The leaker, who posted the images of the chats from an anonymous account, claimed that he had access to additional messages and that he was going to release them to the public later.
Urich's legal case involving Qatar, PM Netanyahu
Urich is a central suspect in the "Qatargate" investigations alleging corruption within the Prime Minister's Office.
The case centers on alleged influence by Qatari-linked individuals close to Netanyahu.
It is separate from the so-called “Bild affair,” which concerns reports in the German outlet. The Jerusalem Post has previously reported on intensified scrutiny of both tracks, as well as on the appointment of Shin Bet Director David Zini and recent leadership changes within the agency.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.