Urich,
Yisrael Einhorn, and Ofer Golan, all of whom were advisors to Netanyahu, were investigated in 2019 on charges of
witness intimidation. In November 2024, reports emerged that Urich and Einhorn were involved in
public relations efforts to improve Qatar's image ahead of the
2022 FIFA World Cup. He was questioned the same month on suspicion of telling
Eli Feldstein to
send classified material to Einhorn, who sent it to the German newspaper
Bild. In February 2025,
Israeli Channel 12 stated that Urich ,along with Feldstein, was employed by a Qatar-funded international firm, The Third Circle (which was owned by
Jay Footlik), to promote Doha's image in Israel, particularly highlighting Qatar's role in mediating hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas. It was mentioned that the company sought to influence media coverage in Israel through direct and indirect means. In the same month,
Attorney General of Israel Gali Baharav-Miara instructed the
Shin Bet security agency and the
Israel Police to investigate the allegations, marking the official launch of the "Qatargate" investigation. Urich was arrested on 31 March 2025, and his arrest was extended by the
magistrate court in
Petah Tikva on 4 April until 7 April 2025. Urich is suspected of multiple offenses, including contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering. He was released to
house arrest on 7 April, which ended in May 2025. The security restrictions that were in place would have lapsed on 18 August, after the magistrate court ruled on 14 August that the police did not "produce evidence" that would meet the threshold indicating that Urich was a "public servant." The police appealed the decision on 17 August, which was accepted by
Lod district court judge Amit Michles on 19 August. The restrictions against Urich will remain until 10 September. Urich was called for questioning by
Lahav 433, which took place on 20 August. The Israeli police requested in September that the magistrate court not allow Urich to work in the prime minister's office, though the request was denied. The police appealed on 12 September to the Lod District Court. The district court accepted the appeal on 18 September, preventing Urich from working in the prime minister's office, or contacting anyone else involved in Qatargate, and marks the fifth time that Michles has overturned a Qatargate-related decision by the Rishon LeZion Magistrate Court. Urich's legal team appealed to the
High Court of Justice on 5 October 2025. Amit Michles of the Lod District court, on 25 October 2025, allowed Urich to work with the Likud party, though the ban on working with the prime minister's office remains in place. The police called for Urich to be barred from working with the Prime Minister's Office and Netanyahu; Urich was questioned on 19 January "on suspicion of obstructing the investigation" into the document leak. The following Sunday, Urich was restricted by the Lod District Court from working with Netanyahu until March. Police sought to keep the contact ban and the travel ban in place in March, pending a hearing later in the month. The Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court ruled that while Urich may not work at the PMO, he can contact the prime minister, but is unable to discuss on the ongoing investigation with him. == References ==