On the Qatari silver platter: Netanyahu cannot hide behind Uri’s paycheck

New revelations show that Jonathan Urich, a close advisor to Netanyahu, continued to promote Qatar’s image during the war amid a conflict of interest. The article examines Urich’s defense claim that his salary was paid by the Likud party and therefore he is not a state employee, rejecting it on the grounds that proximity to power is an asset of immense value.

Media revelations based on police investigations raise serious suspicions against Jonathan Urich, a close advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to reports, Urich continued to promote Qatar’s image even during the war, amid a conflict of interest with his role in the Prime Minister’s Office. In July 2024, he allegedly met with a Qatari official in Berlin. Urich’s main defense claim is that his salary was paid by the Likud party, and therefore he is not subject to the restrictions applicable to state employees. The article rejects this claim, arguing that proximity to power is an asset of immense value, and that continuing to work with Qatar during the war constitutes a blatant conflict of interest. It compares the case to the Ari Harow affair, who was convicted of fraud and breach of trust, and notes that today there are no gatekeepers in Netanyahu’s office who could prevent such a situation. The article ends with a call to support a free press.