A close media aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been released to house arrest following his recent arrest as part of a high-profile investigation known as Qatargate.
Jonatan Urich, who works as one of Netanyahu’s media advisers, was taken into custody alongside fellow aide Eli Feldstein, as authorities probe alleged financial ties to Qatar aimed at swaying Israeli public opinion.
The investigation, led by Israeli police, is looking into accusations that both aides accepted payments from a U.S.-based public relations firm said to be working for the Qatari government. The alleged payments were reportedly made in exchange for promoting Qatar’s image in Israeli media and potentially misusing the prime minister’s office for that purpose.
Police suspect that Urich and Feldstein were involved in a broad list of offenses. These include bribery, fraud, breach of trust, leaking classified materials, money laundering, and illegal contact with a foreign entity. In court testimony, one investigator claimed that Urich passed along information to the press, framing it as coming from official government or security sources, though it may have actually originated from foreign-linked intermediaries.
The pair were first detained on March 31. After several days in custody, a court approved their release under house arrest, allowing the investigation to continue without detention. Authorities have so far not revealed how long the house arrest will last or what conditions have been imposed.
Reactions to the case have been heated. Qatari officials have rejected the allegations outright, saying there is no truth to claims of improper influence. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has dismissed the entire affair as a politically driven campaign. He accused opponents of using the case to try to bring down his right-wing government and interfere with internal matters such as the possible replacement of the Shin Bet security chief.
The Qatargate case has quickly become a major political flashpoint in Israel, raising questions about foreign influence, government integrity, and the role of political media operatives. As the investigation unfolds, it is expected to draw more attention both domestically and internationally.