Decide Menahem Mizrahi dominated police should return telephones seized from Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich within the ongoing “Qatargate” investigation.
Rishon Lezion Justice of the Peace’s Court docket Decide Menahem Mizrahi ordered Israel Police to return to “Qatargate” suspect Yonatan Urich the cell telephones belonging to him that authorities are holding within the context of the investigation into Qatari influences over figures near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police have been anticipated to enchantment the choice to the Lod District Court docket.
At a listening to on the matter on Sunday, investigators knowledgeable the courtroom that “extraction and hacking failed for 2, whereas the mannequin of the third is impenetrable.” Police had requested for a 180-day extension on the seizure of the units.
Requested by Mizrahi why police nonetheless required possession over the telephones if they don’t seem to be penetrable, police representatives responded that its hacking software program is being up to date, and that different impenetrable units cracked open prior to now, as soon as the software program had been up to date.
Mizrahi denied the police’s request to maintain the telephones, calling the choice, “The best one I’ve ever made,” and added, scathingly, that he had knowledgeable state representatives that he would not think about a request with out confidential evidentiary backing, which was the format of the Sunday request.
The Sunday listening to adopted a request by Israel Police final month to increase the seizure of the units.
Yonatan Urich who was arrested within the so-called Qatargate investigation arrives for a courtroom listening to the courtroom in Lod, August 19, 2025. (credit score: Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)
The “Qatargate” affair facilities on claims that Urich, an aide to Netanyahu, and El Feldstein, the previous army spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Workplace, promoted Qatar’s pursuits throughout their tenure within the PMO. Per stories, Feldstein acquired funds from an Israeli businessman who acted as an middleman between Qatar and Israel. Feldstein’s attorneys have said that the funds have been for strategic and communication companies supplied to Netanyahu’s workplace, and that Feldstein was unaware of any direct connection to Qatar.
Issues about conflicts of curiosity
Each Feldstein and Urich have been detained and questioned by authorities in March. Investigations revealed that an organization engaged on behalf of Qatar had contacted Urich to reinforce Qatar’s picture, notably relating to hostage negotiations – as Qatar is a mediator between Israel and Hamas – and subsequently made funds to Feldstein. The suspects are going through costs associated to contact with a overseas agent, cash laundering, and breach of belief
The investigation has raised vital issues about conflicts of curiosity and the integrity of public workplace, notably relating to transparency in monetary dealings and the affect of overseas entities on Israeli home affairs.
Feldstein and Urich have been arrested and later launched to deal with arrest below restrictive circumstances. Not too long ago, the Lod District Court docket overturned the choice of the Justice of the Peace’s Court docket, ruling that Urich should stay barred from working with Netanyahu below the restrictive circumstances imposed on him. One other suspect is Netanyahu’s former advisor, Israel Einhorn.
