Former Shin Bet Chiefs Demand Investigation into PM Aide's WhatsApp Security Breach
Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and security officials demand an immediate investigation into reports that PM Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich linked his WhatsApp to a service tied to foreign actors.
Former Shin Bet Director Yoram Cohen has called for an immediate investigation following a security exposure regarding the WhatsApp account of Yonatan Urich, an aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the report, Urich linked his personal WhatsApp account to a management service operated by an individual with ties to Arab nations, including Syria and Saudi Arabia.
Security Concerns and Official Responses
Cohen, who holds the second spot on the Yashar! party list led by Gadi Eisenkot, took to social media to characterize the incident as a severe security breach. He emphasized that the situation requires an immediate evaluation and damage assessment by the Shin Bet.
This is a grave security incident that demands an immediate Shin Bet investigation and a comprehensive damage assessment, said Yoram Cohen.
Dvir Kariv, a former senior Shin Bet official who joined Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu party, echoed these concerns in an open letter. He urged authorities to seize the device immediately for forensic analysis by the technological division and to conduct a deep debriefing regarding potential data leaks.
Implications for the Prime Minister's Office
The exposure highlights potential vulnerabilities involving sensitive communications from within the Prime Minister's Office. Urich has not responded to media inquiries regarding the specific operational details but has not denied the underlying reports on social media.
