The State Prosecution's request to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's communications adviser Yonatan Urich from the Prime Minister's Office was rejected. The court also approved the revised security indictment against Urich and figures Eli Feldstein and Ari Rosenfeld, according to i24NEWS.
The Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday rejected the State Prosecution's request to bar Prime Minister Netanyahu's communications adviser Yonatan Urich from the Prime Minister's Office compound, as The Zioneer reported at 15:52 from i24NEWS. The ruling means Urich retains his access to the PMO for now, despite the prosecution's argument that his continued presence there posed a risk given the ongoing investigation into a classified leak.
The court simultaneously approved an expanded security indictment against Urich, Eli Feldstein (also a Netanyahu adviser), and Ari Rosenfeld. As The Zioneer reported earlier today at 10:50, the indictment charges Urich with passing secret information with intent to harm state security and destroying evidence. Prior reporting at 14:51 noted the indictment specifically linked Urich to leaking classified material to the German newspaper Bild to undermine hostage deal efforts, and the court had already banned Urich from contacting Netanyahu directly.
The prosecution's rejected request sought to extend restrictions further by physically removing Urich from the PMO premises altogether. The ruling registers a partial setback for the state's effort to sever Urich's operational ties to the premier during the legal proceedings. Background context: a district court petition to bar Urich's father Tzachi Oreich from the PMO compound was also dismissed earlier at 15:37, per a prior Zioneer bulletin.
4 developments
- StrongJudge permits Uriah to communicate with Netanyahu over prosecution's objection
- DevelopingCourt blocks prosecution bid to hold emergency indictment hearing for Netanyahu aide
- StrongProsecution tells court Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich sought to tilt public discourse on hostages
- StrongBardugo accuses state attorney of undermining democracy by restricting Netanyahu aide's contact
Source and signal
- Internal intake