Top Netanyahu aide Urich to be able to meet PM again starting Monday, as court ends restrictive conditions

The Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court declines to extend the restrictions on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top aide Jonatan Urich, meaning that starting Monday, he will be allowed to once again meet and work with the premier.

Urich has been under restrictive conditions for months for his suspected role in the so-called Qatargate case, in which several Netanyahu aides are suspected of having been in contact with Qatari agents and of having conveyed pro-Doha messages under the guise of messages from the Prime Minister’s Office, all while being employed by Netanyahu’s office.

Judge Menachem Mizrahi says police have failed to convince him that suspicions against Urich have strengthened to a level that justified the continued restrictions after such a long time. He says no sufficient evidence has been presented for the allegation that Urich intended, directly or indirectly, to harm national security through his alleged contact with foreign agents.

The judge further says Urich’s work with Qatari officials isn’t illegal since the Gulf state isn’t regarded as an enemy under Israeli law.

He also criticizes the police investigative unit for initially refusing to hand over the entire investigation material.

The state can still appeal the ruling.