Netanyahu aide cursed PM and wife in leaked war messages

WhatsApp messages between Yonatan Urich, a close adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Eli Feldstein were broadcast Tuesday night on Israel's Channel 13, revealing how Urich spoke about the prime minister and his wife Sara Netanyahu during the war.

In the exchanges, which took place during the war, Urich used profane language about the prime minister and his wife, criticized Netanyahu's media briefings, and complained about Sara Netanyahu's requests to promote news items in the press.

In one exchange from August 20, 2024, Urich referred to a phone briefing Netanyahu had given to a reporter on a security matter. "I'm getting hemorrhoids from this call," Urich wrote to Feldstein. Feldstein responded with laughter, and Urich continued with a particularly harsh comment about the prime minister: "The son of a b****, his battery died."

Feldstein replied: "Hahaha, there are no rules with him." Urich then wrote: "I called Caesarea, Sara answered, forget it." Feldstein responded: "Hahaha, huge," and Urich added: "Keep in mind, Bibi is the worst briefer in the country."

Sara Netanyahu (Photo: Oliver Fitoussi/Flash90)

The conversation did not end there. The two continued discussing security publications and how to promote news items in the media. Feldstein wrote: "Cabinet yesterday, Dedi's headline from yesterday," and Urich replied: "F***ing with my head."

Urich later quoted a message that read: "The Mossad chief joined the PM's position in the cabinet on Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor." Feldstein responded: "Yes, must," and Urich wrote: "And Gallant will go crazy." Feldstein added: "Totally, the song is over."

At the end of that exchange, Urich returned to commenting on the prime minister's conduct and wrote: "F***s up our work, better alone."

The leaked messages do not deal only with the prime minister. In another conversation, from July 24, 2024, Urich also referred to Sara Netanyahu during her visit to the United States.

According to the broadcast, Sara Netanyahu asked to promote a media item about her clothing ahead of the prime minister's speech. Urich contacted Feldstein and asked: "Mrs. Netanyahu will arrive at the PM's speech in an orange suit as a sign of solidarity with the Bibas family, do you have a way to help make an item somewhere about this?"

Feldstein replied: "Yes, handling it." But immediately afterward, Urich added a crude comment about the prime minister's wife: "She's scrambling my guavas." Feldstein responded once again: "Handling it."

The publication comes after personal WhatsApp messages allegedly attributed to Urich were circulated online two days ago, seven of which were published. However, Channel 13 clarified that the new messages published are not part of the leaked conversations.

The background to the affair also includes an earlier report in Haaretz, according to which Urich developed an AI-based media monitoring system for the prime minister and his wife. According to the report, the system scanned about 50 news sources and Telegram channels every minute and a half, in order to identify publications concerning the Netanyahus and send alerts to dedicated WhatsApp groups.

The system's code remained exposed online, revealing access keys and phone numbers of group members, and was later removed. According to the publication, despite the concerns raised following the incident, no investigation has been opened on the matter within Likud or among security officials.

In addition, Calcalist reported that Urich connected his private phone to a messaging service operated by a company based in Dubai, raising concerns about the leakage of sensitive information and internal communications to foreign entities.