Exclusive: New evidence links Netanyahu aide Jonatan Urich to Qatar influence campaign

New correspondence reveals that Jonatan Urich was aware of and involved in Eli Feldstein and Srulik Einhorn's project to whitewash Qatar, i24NEWS can reveal.

Urich claimed he was unaware of Einhorn's work promoting pro-Qatari press releases and did not know that Feldstein was also involved in promoting them.

However, correspondence from August 1, 2024, concerning the drafting of pro-Qatari press releases following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, suggests otherwise.

Einhorn and Feldstein sought to promote the message that the United States had asked Qatar to bury Haniyeh in Qatar rather than Iran, and that Doha had agreed to the request. Feldstein briefed Urich on the details just hours before publication.

Feldstein: "The Hasid (Einhorn) and I are doing something problematic today. Just so you know."

Urich then called Feldstein on WhatsApp and was updated on the details. Following publication, Feldstein sent Urich a link to the article.

• Urich: "Hello"
• Feldstein: "Did you like it?"
• Urich: "Health, love, happiness, joy."

In separate correspondence from the same day, Feldstein sent businessman Gil Birger, who financed the project, an article published by Kan at the start of their conversation. The article was headlined: “Exclusive: The Biden administration asked Qatar that Haniyeh’s funeral be held in Qatar and not in Iran. Qatar agreed.”

Feldstein replied: "This is my job, bro. It doesn’t come from nowhere. We made this move. We’ve been building it all day."

At Kan, they worked to cross-check the information they received from the Prime Minister's Office—and approached Qatari sources who confirmed the details.

It later turned out that the Qatari source and the source at the Israeli Prime Minister's Office were, unfortunately, the same source.