Qatargate suspect Urich met with Qatar's 'head of Israel project' months after October 7 - report

Yonatan Urich, senior aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, met at least twice in July 2024 with senior Qatari official Ali al-Thawadi, according to testimony cited by N12. The meetings were not part of an official Israeli assignment, and Netanyahu testified Urich never disclosed his ties to Qatar.

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. Urich stated he did not remember presenting anything at any meetings. 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 is a central suspect in the Qatargate investigations alleging corruption within the Prime Minister's Office.