The Lod District Court, headed by Judge Amit Michles, accepted the police appeal against Yonatan Urich and ordered that the conditions of his release be left unchanged.
In a decision issued today, it was determined that the ban on contact with those involved in the affair, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will continue.
District Court Decision [in Hebrew]
Urich was arrested earlier this year along with Eli Feldstein on suspicion of various offenses, including providing confidential information to the Bild newspaper and breach of trust in the Qatar-Gate affair. Since his release in April, various restrictions have been imposed on him, including temporary house arrest, a ban on contact with those involved in the affair, and a ban on leaving the country.
During the appeal hearing, the police noted that the investigation materials indicate suspicion that Urich acted to promote the interests of the State of Qatar, received sums of money in return, and even hid his actions from the Prime Minister. It was also claimed that this could have jeopardized state security.
Judge Michles said in the hearing: "This is not a matter of 'negligible' issues, and in the words of the lower court - there is a reasonable suspicion that the respondent acted within the framework of a business relationship aimed at creating a good name for the State of Qatar among the countries of the world, enhancing its positive activity and providing it with positive public relations services, among other things, as a fair intermediary in transactions with the terrorist organization Hamas, for the release of the hostages."
He added: "It can also be said, without going into details, that the amounts of money transferred to the respondent in exchange for his work are also not negligible at all, in a way that strengthens the suspicion regarding the extent of the respondent's contribution to the project."
On the other hand, the defense argued that the purpose of the restrictions is to prevent Urich from returning to his job, and that many details from the investigation have already been collected and provided.
However, the judge ruled that there is still reasonable suspicion of his involvement in the offenses attributed to him, and that the investigation, which is expected to end in the coming weeks, should be allowed to be completed.
Urich responded on his X account, writing: "There is no force in the world that will prevent me from returning to work for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."