Tel Aviv: Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has said that he would immediately designate Qatar as an “enemy state” if he returns to office, while accusing Doha of supporting groups hostile to Israel.
In remarks reported by Israeli media, Bennett claimed that during his tenure as prime minister he was informed that Qatar was providing financial support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hamas.
He also alleged that Qatar had invested billions of dollars in American universities to influence younger generations, claiming this had contributed to the spread of slogans such as “From the river to the sea” among students.
Bennett further asserted that Qatar’s influence extends into Western countries and even reaches the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. He claimed that its objective is to undermine Israel and stated that, if elected prime minister again, he would formally designate Qatar as an enemy state.
Naftali Bennett was previously a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political party and served as Netanyahu’s chief of staff before leaving the party. He later served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2021 to 2022.
Qatar has previously rejected allegations that it supports terrorism, stating that its regional engagement and mediation efforts are conducted in coordination with international partners, including the United States. The latest remarks reported above reflect Bennett’s allegations and political position.
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