Hitting back at Bennett, Qatar accuses ex-PM of spreading disinformation for political gain

Qatar accuses Together chairman Naftali Bennett of “spreading disinformation” against the Gulf country in order ” to score political points at home” after the former prime minister accused Doha of funding Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday.

Bennett — who has fallen well behind Yashar chief Gadi Eisenkot as the main contender to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — pledged to declare Qatar an enemy state if he returns to office after the October 27 election.

He called Qatar an “antisemitic cancer” seeking to destroy Israel.

In a statement responding to Bennett, the Qatari Embassy in Washington’s media attache, Ali Al-Ansari, says he “spread disinformation about Qatar in an attempt to further his own political ambitions.”

“Qatar’s role in efforts to support security and stability in the region have been widely recognized by regional and international partners,” Ansari says, noting that those efforts included Gaza ceasefires and hostage release deals that were carried out in full coordination with many of the same Israeli authorities who are now attacking Doha.

“Israeli politicians who criticize Qatar should instead focus on addressing their own domestic challenges,” Ansari adds, lamenting that this is not the first time Bennett has criticized Doha without providing any proof.

“As we have stated previously, Israeli disinformation campaigns will not deter Qatar from continuing its constructive role in pursuing peace and security, both in the region and internationally,” the Qatari official says.