Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's adviser and close confidant, Yonatan Urich, asked ChatGPT to create a strategic plan to improve Qatar's image in Israel and around the world, Channel 12 reported on Monday evening.
Citing excerpts from Urich's interrogation in the 'Qatargate' affair, N12 reported that investigators confronted the prime minister's adviser with correspondence obtained by police as part of ongoing investigations into several high-profile cases involving Urich.
The 'Qatargate' investigation centers on allegations that Urich and other figures close to Netanyahu received illicit payments from Qatari-linked sources to promote pro-Qatari messaging in Israel. Suspected offenses in the case include bribery, contact with a foreign agent, and money laundering.
Urich asked AI for pro-Qatar messaging targeting Israelis, Jewish communities
According to excerpts presented during the interrogation, Urich asked the artificial intelligence chatbot for additional ideas to improve the image of Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
He also requested three separate messaging frameworks targeting Israeli citizens, Jewish communities around the world, and influential figures in the United States.
Even after being shown the correspondence, Urich continued to deny acting to advance Qatar's interests, according to the report.
"I don't remember what I asked the chat," he was quoted as telling investigators. "I ask it about many subjects."
Urich further stressed that he had not acted on Qatar's behalf in Israel, whether in dealings with the media, the public, or the prime minister.
Eisenkot: A 'reasonable' PM would have removed Urich from office
In response to the report, Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot attacked Netanyahu for failing to remove Urich from his inner circle despite the ongoing 'Qatargate' investigation.
Eisenkot described the affair as an "influence operation and psychological warfare against Israeli citizens," adding that a "reasonable" prime minister would have immediately removed Urich from his position.
B'Yachad chairman and former prime minister Naftali Bennett also criticized Netanyahu, calling 'Qatargate' the most "serious treason scandal in the country's history."
Bennett said that anyone who worked to whitewash Qatar from the Prime Minister's Office during wartime was acting in the interests of "the hand that funded the Nukhba terrorists." He further accused Netanyahu of keeping Urich in his position "to cover up the betrayal."
Urich: I did 'nothing' with ChatGPT queries regarding Qatar
In a response to N12, Urich said the details published had "already been in the possession of many journalists for a long time, and they spoke to me about it."
"However, none of them saw fit to address my queries to the chat because I did nothing with them, as was also proven in the interrogation," the prime minister's adviser added.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.