Former Israeli PM Bennett Vows to Declare Qatar 'Enemy State' If Elected

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has declared that if elected to lead again, he would immediately designate Qatar as an enemy state. Bennett, speaking at a national security conference, accused Doha of directly funding Hamas with $1 billion and financing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Jabhat al-Nusra.

Bennett described Qatar as a 'violent antisemitic cancer' that has spread its influence through Western universities and even into the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, posing a greater threat than Iran. He asserted that after the October 7 attacks, Qatar's role is unequivocally that of an enemy.

During his tenure as prime minister, Bennett stated he received intelligence indicating Qatar's financial support for the IRGC. He also criticized Qatar's extensive global influence operations and its role in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, suggesting that certain Israeli officials were involved in a public relations campaign to portray Qatar positively.

Qatar's embassy in the US has refuted Bennett's claims, accusing him of spreading disinformation for political purposes and urging him to focus on domestic challenges. The complex relationship between Israel and Qatar includes Qatar hosting a major US military base and acting as a mediator in regional conflicts.