Bennett: Qatar more dangerous to Israel today than Iran; has access to PM’s office

Former and would-be prime minister Naftali Bennett describes Qatar as “more dangerous” to Israel today than Iran.

In a Channel 12 interview, the Together party leader explains that, “With Iran, everyone knows that [it says], ‘We’ll destroy Israel.'”

But Qatar, he says, “funded the Nukhba terrorists of October 7… Qatar operates Al Jazeera, which is the most poisonous cancer hurting us… Qatar reaches places of influence in American universities… And most importantly, [it has access] to the most sacred place for the security of Israel — that is the office of the prime minister of Israel.”

This is an apparent reference to former and current aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including senior aide Jonatan Urich, who are alleged to have taken money to spearhead a public relations campaign to cast Qatar in a positive light for over a year after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

Bennett says Qatar “works against us and poisons us from within,” and fumes that Israel does not define Qatar as an enemy state. Therefore, “according to the law today, anybody can work for Qatar. You can be an agent for Qatar,” he tells his interviewers. “The most dangerous enemy to Israel is not defined as an enemy [state].”

He says many in Israel are on Qatar’s payroll. “There are research institutes in Israel, there are influencers in Israel, and maybe also officials in Israel who are on Qatar’s payroll.”

“In the next government,” he vows, “we will define Qatar as an enemy.” It is “unforgivable” that this is not already the case, he says.