Latest news with #GaliBaharavMiara
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The man who knows everything about Netanyahu: If Urich falls, everything comes crashing down
Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara has recommended indicting Prime Minister Netanyahu's advisor, Yonatan Urich, for leaking information to a German newspaper. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday lashed out at Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara's decision to recommend charging his close advisor, Yonatan Urich, for the leak of sensitive documents to the German tabloid Bild. "The decision to prosecute Urich is disastrous and raises questions,' Netanyahu said. 'A disgraceful statement from the attorney-general. I know the details, and I say, he did not harm national security." Dozens of people have worked in Netanyahu's office over the cumulative 17 years he has served as prime minister. Advisors have come and gone. Some became state witnesses, including Nir Hefetz, Ari Harow, and Shlomo Filber (who signed as a state witness and later regretted it). Those who were not involved left the office in anger, but only a few left intact, without being indicted or harboring hard feelings. But of all those who came and went, Netanyahu, a man devoid of emotion, who believed that everyone was born to serve him, truly loved and valued only two: Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Yonatan Urich. 'Urich and Dermer are like the sons Netanyahu wanted to have,' said a source who worked in the Prime Minister's Office for many years. "He is a man who distrusts everyone and is paranoid that everyone wants to bring him down. But he trusts these two almost completely. They were exposed to nearly everything—they knew the secrets, the schemes, everything. Urich was aware of every political and media move. He was intimately familiar with every campaign, both official and unofficial, as well as every vendetta. Dermer is the de facto foreign minister, liaison to the US administration, and someone Netanyahu completely trusts on the most sensitive political and military matters." But as the cliché goes, Netanyahu is like the sun: when you get too close, you burn. Urich began working with Netanyahu in 2015. Yoav Ben-Tzur, who worked with Netanyahu at the time, convinced him to join after Topaz Luk, who knew Urich from their service in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, recommended him. His skills quickly became apparent: a digital expert, Urich opened Netanyahu's eyes to the world of social networks. He charmed Netanyahu by giving him the ability to engage directly with the public on Facebook and later on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, without having to use the media, which Netanyahu despised, as an intermediary. Urich is a very talented man: creative, sharp, and up-to-date. However, he is also unrestrained. He doesn't see limitations. He initiated and navigated harsh campaigns against political rivals, with no red lines. Ask Benny Gantz: he could write a series of books about the nightmare he went through, especially during election periods when he was a real threat to Netanyahu's rule; the prime minister's propaganda machine - with Urich playing a central role - attacked Gantz, even below the belt. Yonatan Urich's involvement in Netanyahu's affairs Urich's entanglement didn't begin yesterday, with the potential indictment for the leak to the Bild. It started much earlier. On February 11, 2025, the prosecution decided to indict Urich, Ofer Golan, and Srulik Einhorn for harassing Shlomo Filber, the state witness in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000. According to the indictment, in 2019, the three conspired to harass Filber regarding his testimony in Case 4000. They rented a car with a loudspeaker system and sent two of their people to Filber's home, where they were heard shouting things like: 'Momo, be a man, go and tell the truth! What did they do to you to get you to go against the prime minister? What did they promise you? The left is using you to bring down Likud!' and more. This, as mentioned, was Urish's first noted involvement. The second came last night. In a statement from the attorney-general's office, it was stated that 'the State Prosecutor's Office informed Yonatan Urich, the Prime Minister's close advisor, that the Attorney-General and State Prosecutor are considering indicting him for criminal charges, subject to a hearing, in the'Bild' case on the grounds of security violations, including leaking classified information with intent to harm national security, possessing classified information, and destroying evidence.' 'According to the allegations," continued the statement, "Urich, together with Eli Feldstein, took highly classified information from the IDF's systems that, if exposed by Urich, could have endangered national security and lives. The release of the classified information was intended, among other things, to influence public perception of the prime minister and skew the discourse regarding the murder of six hostages in August 2024.' Minutes after the statement, Urich's attorneys, Amit Hadad and Noa Milstein, responded: 'Yonatan Urich denies all allegations against him. He never possessed or leaked classified information and certainly did not harm national security. This is an absurd set of allegations arriving at an inconvenient time, and his innocence will be proven beyond any doubt.' However, the third, most severe case for Urich is still pending: the Qatargate case. Urich is suspected of receiving payment from a Qatar-funded company to act from within the Prime Minister's Office in order to advance Qatar's interests, such as portraying it as a peace-seeking and dominant country, in contrast to Egypt. According to a Haaretz exposé, Urich worked for the Qatari government prior to the World Cup to improve its image, which had been criticized internationally for being a dictatorial state. This is the biggest criminal case against Urich, and Netanyahu has gone to great lengths to help him. In a video released of Netanyahu, the prime minister is seen nearly exploding with rage, saying: "The police are conducting a political campaign against him. This is a political investigation, a political move. Other than that, there's nothing. They are trying to prevent the firing of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief. The investigation is intended to bring down a right-wing prime minister." Urich's detention has been extended repeatedly. He was interrogated multiple times, placed under house arrest, and then returned to detention. The investigation has been ongoing for months. Netanyahu is angry. Beyond his personal concern and the lack of media presence, Netanyahu knows something else: Urich knows everything. Urich had been close to him for years, and it was not a good idea to anger him. To avoid angering him and to show him that he's not alone and that he has complete backing, senior staff from the PMO were sent to the detention extensions. Everyone showed up to ensure that Urich didn't become a state witness against the boss. In April, Nir Hefetz, Netanyahu's former communications advisor, said: "Urich is the man who knows everything about Netanyahu. If this brick crumbles, the whole wall will collapse. Urich is a weak man, and Netanyahu knows exactly what he says to their mutual lawyer, Amit Hadad." He added: "Qatargate is the reason for the acceleration of the judicial overhaul in recent weeks: firing Ronen Bar, the process of ousting the attorney-general, and changing the makeup of the committee for selecting judges. Netanyahu is trying to stop the Qatargate investigation, and he knows why." And Urich? He remained silent. Recently released from house arrest, he occasionally tweeted, as usual, singing Netanyahu's praises. He remains loyal, an admirer. From time to time, he sends media advice to the office, which is now left without him, professionally abandoned. So, what will happen to Urich after the second indictment, pending the hearing? The answer is: nothing. It doesn't bother Netanyahu. Urich is not a state employee; he is an independent contractor who submits invoices for his services. As long as Netanyahu remains in power, he will continue to employ him, regardless of whether there are two indictments or 10. Law violations? Indictments? That hasn't bothered Netanyahu in years. The only thing that matters to him is that Urich stays close, doesn't speak against him, and most importantly, continues helping him. Because in the months he has been absent, anyone who understands communications within the office, in the surrounding environment, and in the system understands how crucial Urich was to the media activities in the most important office in the country. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Qatargate investigation: Urich will appear for pre indictment hearing
The Prime Minister's Office responded to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara's intention to indict Urich on Monday, calling it a "disgraceful announcement." After the announcement Sunday that the prosecution is considering criminal charges against lead 'Qatargate' suspect and aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yonatan Urich, his lawyers said on Monday that he will appear before a pre-indictment hearing. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara announced on Sunday night that the prosecution is considering criminal charges against him – pending a hearing, during which the prosecution will present a tentative version of an indictment to Urich and his lawyers, and they will have the opportunity to respond. If, after that, the prosecution is not satisfied with what it has received, it will proceed with an indictment. Urich's lawyers demanded on Monday to receive all the investigation materials. The charges include offenses such as the unlawful disclosure of classified information with intent to harm national security, possession of classified information, and destruction of evidence. This is concerning what is known as the 'Leaked Documents Affair,' in which former PMO military spokesman Eli Feldstein allegedly leaked classified military documents to the German daily Bild, after permission for their publication was denied by the Israeli military censor. The documents were eventually published, allegedly to sway public opinion on the hostage negotiations. This was around August 2024, when six hostages were killed by their Hamas captors in a tunnel: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Almog Sarusi, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, and Alex Lobanov. Urich allegedly operated with Feldstein to bring this to fruition. Per the allegations, he sought to extract classified information from the IDF, including through secret intelligence, which, once publicized, endangered national security and human lives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the authorities' announcement 'disgraceful,' and 'an unfortunate decision that raises serious questions.' 'I am familiar with the details, and I state clearly and unequivocally: There was no harm to the security of the state. Yonatan did not harm the state's security. This is an unfounded, baseless move, intended to serve another agenda, not the public's interest,' Netanyahu wrote. PMO deputy security director Alon Haliva is expected to provide open testimony in the leaked documents case. Feldstein is under house arrest. The State Attorney's Office opposed easing the conditions of Feldstein's arrest on Monday. In contrast, Urich is being held in significantly more lenient conditions. The incoming Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief will be barred from involvement in the 'Qatargate' investigations until they are cleared up in about two months, resolving the issue of the prime minister's conflict of interest in the matter. Per reports, IDF Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yoav 'Poli' Mordechai was questioned in connection with the case, on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent and accepting bribery. He is also suspected of transferring hundreds of thousands of shekels from his business to Urich throughout 2024 for a Qatari campaign. Bini Aschkenasy and Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
High Court approves compromise between gov't, A-G on new Shin Bet head
Under the decision, the incoming Shin Bet director will be barred from involvement in the 'Qatargate' investigation until the matter is resolved by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara. The High Court of Justice on Sunday approved a compromise between the government and the Attorney-General's Office on the fiery issue of the next appointment to lead the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency): Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now has 60 days to propose a new appointment. Within 60 days, the conflict of interest issue plaguing Netanyahu will be resolved, and he will be free to recommend his appointment to the Advisory Committee on Senior Civil Service Appointments. The incoming chief will be barred from involvement in the 'Qatargate' investigations until the matter is resolved by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, as part of a conflict-of-interest arrangement. Supreme Court Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit clarified last month in a court hearing that there is no dispute over the prime minister's authority to appoint the Shin Bet chief. Rather, the legal disagreement centers on whether Netanyahu is barred from making the appointment while a sensitive Shin Bet probe is underway involving members of his staff, this being the basis for Baharav-Miara's harsh objection regarding the legitimacy of the appointment of IDF Maj.-Gen. David Zini. She wrote that the appointment wasn't legitimate because it was made while Netanyahu was shrouded in a conflict of interest on the issue due to two pending matters: the 'leaked documents' case and the 'Qatargate' investigation. Both involve former Prime Minister's Office military spokesman Eli Feldstein and adviser Yonatan Urich. Since the Shin Bet is assisting in both investigations, the attorney-general has maintained that Netanyahu must recuse himself from the appointment process. Baharav-Miara has proposed that the government delegate the appointment authority to another minister, a move she says would eliminate the conflict. Netanyahu has rejected her position, saying that national security considerations override what he called an alleged conflict of interest. He argued that the relationship between the prime minister and the Shin Bet chief is unique and vital to state security, and therefore, the decision must remain in his hands. He also contended that the issue is political in nature and should not be decided by the court. Former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar resigned on June 15, after the push to fire him gained momentum in November 2024, when the Qatargate investigations began. Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.
Al Arabiya
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Netanyahu aide faces indictment over Gaza leak
An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces indictment on security charges pending a hearing, Israel's attorney general has said, for allegedly leaking top secret military information during Israel's war in Gaza. Netanyahu's close adviser, Jonatan Urich, has denied any wrongdoing in the case, which legal authorities began investigating in late 2024. Netanyahu has described probes against Urich and other aides as politically motivated and on Monday said that Urich had not harmed state security. Urich's attorneys said the charges were baseless and that their client's innocence would be proven beyond doubt. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said in a statement late on Sunday that Urich and another aide had extracted secret information from the Israeli military and leaked it to German newspaper Bild. Their intent, she said, was to shape public opinion of Netanyahu and influence the discourse about the slaying of six Israeli hostages by their Palestinian captors in Gaza in late August 2024. The hostages' deaths sparked mass protests in Israel and outraged hostages' families, who accused Netanyahu of torpedoing ceasefire talks that had faltered in the preceding weeks for political reasons. Netanyahu vehemently denies this. He has repeatedly said that Hamas was to blame for the talks collapsing, while the militant group has said it was Israel's fault no deal had been reached. Four of the six slain hostages had been on the list of more than 30 captives that Hamas was set to free if a ceasefire had been reached, according to a defense official at the time. The Bild article in question was published days after the hostages were found executed in a Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza. It outlined Hamas' negotiation strategy in the indirect ceasefire talks and largely corresponded with Netanyahu's allegations against the militant group over the deadlock. Bild said after the investigation was announced that it does not comment on its sources and that its article relied on authentic documents. The newspaper did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. A two-month ceasefire was reached in January this year and included the release of 38 hostages before Israel resumed attacks in Gaza. The sides are presently engaged in indirect negotiations in Doha, aimed at reaching another truce. In his statement on Monday, Netanyahu said Baharav-Miara's announcement was 'appalling' and that its timing raised serious questions. Netanyahu's government has for months been seeking the dismissal of Baharav-Miara. The attorney general, appointed by the previous government, has sparred with Netanyahu's cabinet over the legality of some of its policies.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
With backs to the wall on IDF draft, Haredi MKs slam Edelstein, A-G
Edelstein has yet to present the text of a new law proposal based on agreements reached with haredi representatives on June 12, the eve of Israel's attack against Iran. Members of Knesset from the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties criticized Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara on Wednesday and Thursday over their conduct regarding haredi service in the IDF. Edelstein has yet to present the text of a new law proposal based on agreements reached with haredi representatives on June 12, the eve of Israel's attack against Iran. A spokesperson for Edelstein said on Thursday that the bill would indeed be based on the agreements, but that there were still many details to work out. However, in a Thursday article in Shas's newspaper Haderech, party spokesperson Asher Medina argued that Edelstein had reneged on some of the agreements. 'The act of deceit and fraud surrounding the draft law knows no rest,' Medina wrote. 'The ink on Edelstein's festive [June 12] announcement about the agreements barely dried, and already it turned out [that] the promises remained only on paper. The public and media pressure wasn't long in coming, and Edelstein, as is his way, began to feel pressured and panicked and started dragging his feet. 'Suddenly, he asked to backtrack, reopened issues that had already been settled, and shifted the blame onto the committee's legal adviser. At the same time, he launched a symphony of briefings to journalists,' Medina wrote. 'The very agreement that Edelstein proudly boasted about... has suddenly, according to him, become a tactical concession forced upon him by the attack in Iran. The level of trust the haredi delegation has in Edelstein is close to nothing. Even lower is the level of trust the Council of Torah Sages has in the chance that this committee will produce a law that satisfies them. 'If, at this stage, there are demands to reopen issues that were already agreed upon, what will stop them from deceiving Torah scholars again and again?' Medina added. He argued that the haredi parties had 'no choice' but to use the only parliamentary tool at their disposal to apply pressure. For weeks, haredi MKs have boycotted voting on bills proposed by private MKs, which usually come up on Wednesdays. However, for the first time this week, the MKs boycotted the plenum on Monday as well, forcing the coalition to remove from the agenda government-proposed bills and bills that were in advanced stages of legislation. THE AGREEMENTS stipulated that an increasing number of haredi draftees would enlist annually, with the ultimate goal of 50% of each graduating class drafting within five years. The bill included a series of sanctions that would apply to draft dodgers gradually, with some relatively light sanctions applying immediately, and heavier sanctions added at six-month increments. Financial sanctions would also be applied to yeshivot that do not reach draft quotas. In the meantime, current sanctions against draft dodgers, which include blocked funds to yeshivot and the cessation of state-subsidized daycare, would be lifted. Medina's mention of the committee's legal adviser, Miri Frenkel-Shor, was notable, since the agreements drew legal and public criticism soon after they were published. The head of the Finance Ministry's Budget Department, Yoav Gardos, wrote in a letter to Frenkel-Shor on July 2 that the agreement would actually serve as an incentive not to enlist and not to work and, in effect, perpetuate the issues that it set out to solve. Gardos pointed out that the idea of quotas may already be a nonstarter since they did not place a specific requirement for individual haredim to enlist. In addition, he explained that the immediate sanctions would not significantly affect many young haredi yeshiva students. In the meantime, the law's passage will free up funds to yeshivot and to parents that are currently frozen because of students' draft evasion. THE PREVIOUS exemption for haredi men officially ended with a High Court ruling in June 2024, and since no new bill has passed, the current legal status requires the enlistment of all of the approximately 80,000 eligible haredi men. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara has held monthly meetings since then to ensure that the High Court ruling is being implemented. The most recent meeting took place on Sunday. According to a summary of the meeting put out by the A-G's spokesperson, IDF representatives said they had taken a number of measures to increase enforcement against draft dodgers. These included a change of protocol to shorten the grace period for draftees before they are considered draft-dodgers; increased enforcement at border crossings, roadblocks, and regular arrests; pre-initiated enforcement based on intelligence; a special plan during the month of September to ease punishment on draft-dodgers who report for service on their own accord; and adding jail cells for draft-dodgers who continue to refuse service. In addition, on top of the approximately 24,000 draft orders sent out over the past year, the IDF will send out the remaining 54,000 by the end of July, which will apply gradually until June 2026, pertinent to the IDF's capacity to process new recruits. Degel Hatorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni said on Thursday, 'Baharav-Miara has declared herself the leading fighter against the world of Torah, its students, and those who uphold the Jewish people. We will not allow even a single yeshiva student to be prevented from learning Torah or to interrupt his studies. 'The Jewish people are well-acquainted with the trials of history, both near and distant, in which attempts were made to stop Torah study, and we know how those attempts ended.' In his article on Thursday, Medina wrote the following about Baharav-Miara: 'At the Attorney-General's Office, they gleefully rubbed their hands and raced, eyes wide open, toward chaos. There, they pressured the IDF to issue tens of thousands more draft notices to haredim, toughen sanctions, shorten enforcement timelines, and even consider extreme measures like arrests and checkpoints at the entrances to haredi cities.' Medina continued, 'In their view, the draft law is the last card left to shatter the Netanyahu government through a rupture with the haredi public. And they won't relent. They will do everything to sabotage a legal arrangement, to prevent a resolution, lest even a single yeshiva student escape the 'draft-dodger' label they've assigned him.' The boycotts drew criticism from within the coalition. MK Dan Illouz (Likud) on Wednesday and MK Moshe Saada (Likud) on Thursday expressed their opposition to the haredi maneuver, which they claimed was unacceptable during wartime.
