Revealed: The Millions Allegedly Paid by Qatar to Netanyahu’s Inner Circle
Report claims $10 million funneled through foreign companies to former Israeli security chiefs, ex-Mossad officials, and Netanyahu’s close adviser Yonatan Urich.
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Qatar allegedly poured around $10 million into a covert influence project designed to reshape its global image — and some of Israel’s most high-profile figures may have been on the receiving end. According to Kan News, police and anti-money laundering investigators suspect that former senior security officials, ex-Mossad operatives, and Netanyahu’s close political aide Yonatan Urich were all part of “Project Lighthouse,” a campaign aimed at improving Qatar’s standing in Jewish communities worldwide and across social media.
The Alleged Operation Between 2021 and 2024, the project allegedly moved millions of dollars from Qatar through a British company into an Israeli-owned firm led by retired security officials. From there, the money was distributed to contractors, including technology company Kuyos and the PR firm Perception, owned by Israel Einhorn.
The Numbers Perception reportedly received around $45,000 per month for over two years. Out of this sum, Yonathan Urich — Netanyahu’s former spokesman and close political adviser — allegedly pocketed $18,000 a month. Overall, authorities estimate the Qatari-backed project’s cost at nearly $10 million.
The Suspicions Urich is now under investigation in the expanding “Qatar-gate” affair. Police suspect him of contacts with a foreign agent, passing classified information, accepting bribes, fraud, and breach of trust. This is in addition to his separate legal troubles in the Bild documents leak case, for which the Attorney General already announced plans to file an indictment pending a hearing.
Other Involvement According to reports, retired Major General Yoav “Poli” Mordechai, along with other former security officials, were also engaged in the Lighthouse project. The monthly payouts amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars divided among the participants.
Political Fallout The investigation has also expanded toward the Prime Minister’s Office. Police reportedly probed suspicions that Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, intervened to alter official protocols from the first days of the war. The inquiry began after a letter from former military secretary Maj. Gen. Avi Gil alleged irregularities in documentation of attendance logs and classified summaries.
The affair, still unfolding, has sparked outrage in Israel. If confirmed, it would reveal that senior figures tied to the Prime Minister’s circle were receiving Qatari funds at the same time Doha positioned itself as a key mediator in Gaza hostage negotiations. For Urich, the stakes are personal: prosecutors are already preparing one indictment, and “Qatar-gate” could add an even heavier shadow over his political career.