By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian news Finland
TEL AVIV, Israel Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Vows says that if he wins Israel’s next election, his government will formally declare Qatar an enemy state.
He made the pledge at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) national security conference, according to multiple Israeli outlets covering the event.
Bennett Vows, who now leads the Together party and is one of Netanyahu’s most prominent challengers heading into October’s election, did not mince words about Qatar.
He accused the Gulf state of acting like a malignant force working to undermine Israel from within, saying its influence had even seeped into the Israeli prime minister’s own office.
Bennett Qatar Enemy State Pledge Tied to Hamas Funding Claims
Bennett Vows central accusation is financial. He described Qatar as a leading financier of Islamist terrorism, particularly Hamas, and said the group’s actions during the October 7 attacks left it responsible for Israeli deaths.
He went further at the conference, arguing that Qatar’s reach extends beyond Hamas funding into a broader influence campaign.
Bennett Vows said Qatar has spent years building a global influence network aimed at weakening Israel, pointing specifically to its ownership and funding of the Al Jazeera news network, which he accused of amplifying Hamas messaging.
What Bennett Said About Iran and Qatargate
The Qatar remarks came alongside broader security comments. Bennett also addressed Iran policy, repeating what he calls the “octopus doctrine” his long-standing argument that Israel should focus military pressure on Tehran itself rather than on Iran-backed groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Bennett Vows tied his Qatar comments to a domestic political controversy known as “Qatargate,” in which he has alleged that advisers close to Netanyahu had financial ties to Doha.
He has previously described the affair as the most serious act of treason in Israeli history and used it to press for Netanyahu’s resignation.
Key Facts
- Naftali Bennett, former Israeli PM and current Together party leader, made the pledge at the INSS national security conference.
- He said a government under him would declare Qatar an enemy state and accused it of financing Hamas.
- He also accused Qatar of funding Al Jazeera as part of an influence campaign against Israel.
- Bennett is a leading challenger to PM Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October elections.
- A recent poll found 59% of Israelis already view Qatar as an enemy state.
- Bennett Vows
FAQs:
Who is Naftali Bennett Vows?
He is a former Israeli prime minister and current leader of the Together party, now running to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu.
What did Bennett say about Qatar?
He said that if elected, his government would formally designate Qatar an enemy state, accusing it of funding Hamas and running an anti-Israel influence campaign.
Has Qatar responded?
No public response from Qatari officials had been reported as of this writing.
When is Israel’s next election?
Israel’s general election is scheduled for October 2026.
What is “Qatargate”?
It’s a political controversy in which Bennett has alleged that advisers close to Netanyahu had financial ties to Qatar during the war.
What Bennett Said About Iran and Qatargate
The Qatar remarks came alongside broader security comments. Bennett also addressed Iran policy, repeating what he calls the “octopus doctrine” his long-standing argument that Israel should focus military pressure on Tehran itself rather than on Iran-backed groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Bennett tied his Qatar comments to a domestic political controversy known as “Qatargate,” in which he has alleged that advisers close to Netanyahu had financial ties to Doha.
He has previously described the affair as the most serious act of treason in Israeli history and used it to press for Netanyahu’s resignation
Bennett vows that on his first day in office, he would move to formally designate Qatar an enemy state a step no sitting Israeli government has taken.
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