Latest news with #Urich
MTV Lebanon
2 days ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
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 defence 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.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
PM Netanyahu slams Attorney General for charging top aide
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday slammed the country's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over the announcement of pending criminal charges against the Prime Minister's top aide Yonatan Urich calling the move "baseless and unfounded". "The disgraceful announcement by the Attorney General regarding the intention to prosecute Yonatan Orich, especially at this particular time, is an unfortunate decision that raises serious questions," the Israeli PM posted on X. "I am familiar with the details, and I state clearly and unequivocally: there was no harm to national security. Yonatan did not harm national security. This is an absurd, baseless move — intended to serve a different agenda, and not the public's best interest," the post added. The remarks came after Attorney General Miara announced pending charges against Urich ahead of a government panel hearing scheduled for Monday to consider her potential dismissal. Reports suggest that the prosecutors alleged that Urich, together with Eli Feldstein, a former military spokesman for Netanyahu, leaked classified Israel Defence Forces (IDF) documents to the press, a case that has embroiled the Prime Minister's Office. "This was information classified at the highest possible level that was obtained through secret intelligence means, and Urich, by exposing it, may have endangered state security and lives," the Attorney General's Office said in a statement to the press. "The release of classified information by Urich and Feldstein was intended, among other things, to influence public opinion regarding the Prime Minister, and to shift the discourse at the time regarding the murder of the six hostages in August 2024," the statement added. However, Urich's lawyers Amit Hadad and Noa Milstein asserted that their client "denies all the allegations against him", and that he "never possessed and never transmitted a classified document and definitely didn't harm national security". They called the attorney general's announcement "baseless" which "comes at a timing that isn't coincidental", adding that Urich's "innocence will be proven beyond doubt".
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Netanyahu aide faces indictment over Gaza leak
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has described probes against Mr Urich and other aides as politically motivated. JERUSALEM - 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. Mr Netanyahu's close adviser, Mr Jonatan Urich, has denied any wrongdoing in the case , which legal authorities began investigating in late 2024. Mr Netanyahu has described probes against Mr Urich and other aides as politically motivated and on July 14 said that Mr Urich had not harmed state security. Mr 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 July 13 that Mr 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 Mr 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 Mr Netanyahu of torpedoing ceasefire talks that had faltered in the preceding weeks for political reasons. Mr 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. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Singapore Special edition SG60 Nets card now on sale for $10 Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Life Pioneer performance artist Amanda Heng to represent Singapore at 2026 Venice Biennale Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore Jail for woman who opened bank accounts that received over $640.7m, including scam proceeds Singapore Driver assisting with police probe after e-bike rider injured in hit-and-run in Hougang Sport After Olympic heartbreak, Singaporean swimmer Chantal Liew turns pain into inspiration 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 defence 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 Mr 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 July 14. 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 July 14, Mr Netanyahu said Mr Baharav-Miara's announcement was 'appalling' and that its timing raised serious questions. Mr Netanyahu's government has for months been seeking the dismissal of Mr Baharav-Miara. The attorney general, appointed by the previous government, has sparred with Mr Netanyahu's cabinet over the legality of some of its policies. REUTERS
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Who is Jonatan Urich, Netanyahu's aide facing indictment over Gaza leak?
An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces indictment on security charges pending a hearing, Israel's attorney general said on Sunday, for allegedly leaking top-secret military information during Israel's war in close adviser, Jonatan Urich, has denied any wrongdoing in the case, which legal authorities began investigating in late 2024. The prime minister has described probes against Urich and other aides as a General Gali Baharav-Miara said in a statement 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 hostages' deaths had sparked mass protests in Israel and outraged hostage families, who accused Netanyahu of torpedoing ceasefire talks that had faltered in the preceding weeks for political 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 of the six slain hostages had been on the list of more than 30 captives that Hamas was set to free were a ceasefire to be reached, according to a defence official at the Bild article in question was published days after the hostages were found executed in a Hamas tunnel in southern outlined Hamas' negotiation strategy in the indirect ceasefire talks and largely corresponded with Netanyahu's allegations against the militant group over the said after the investigation was announced that it does not comment on its sources and that its article relied on authentic documents.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.- Ends
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former Netanyahu aide could face charges in security leak case
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's attorney general said Sunday a close adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been advised that he could face criminal prosecution on allegations of providing secret information with the intent of harming the country's security. The development involving a central figure in what is popularly known in Israel as Qatargate comes after police earlier this year arrested the adviser, Jonatan Urich, and former spokesman Eli Feldstein on suspicion of accepting money from Qatar to promote a positive image of the Gulf Arab state in Israel. Feldstein also has been indicted in a separate case involving the leak of classified information to a German tabloid — and Sunday's statement says Urich could face criminal prosecution in that case. The attorney general's statement said Urich is accused of working with Feldstein to share 'highly classified' Israeli military information and said the release 'was intended, among other things, to influence public awareness regarding the prime minister and to shift the discourse' following the killing of six hostages in Gaza in August of last year. The statement says the criminal prosecution of Urich is subject to a hearing but does not say when that will occur. There was no immediate public reaction from the office of Netanyahu, which has been ensnared in scandal while the prime minister continues to face pressure from the Israeli public over the 21-month war in Gaza. In the Qatargate case, Urich and Feldstein were arrested earlier this year on suspicion of accepting money from Qatar — a country that many Israelis view as a patron of Hamas — to promote it in Israel. Qatar is a key mediator in the indirect ceasefire negotiations for Gaza and denies backing the militant group. Netanyahu has given a statement to police on the Qatargate matter but is not a suspect in the case, which he says is baseless and meant to topple his rule. Separately, Netanyahu is the subject of a long-running corruption trial.
