PMO denies report it blocked bill to label Qatar a terrorist-supporting state

Channel 12 reports that the Prime Minister’s Office blocked a Knesset bill initiated during the Israel–Hamas war to legally designate Qatar as a “terror-supporting state.”

The PMO rejects the report as “fake news.”

Economy Minister Nir Barkat originally initiated the bill, but required the assistance of MK Moshe Saada, since ministers can’t initiate bills, the network says. The bill sought to define Qatar as a terror-supporting state, creating such a category for the first time, and would prohibit donations, trade and diplomatic engagement with the country, excluding the issue of the hostages, says Channel 12.

The bill reached the Ministerial Committee for Legislation twice — once at the end of 2024, and once in January — but the report says the National Security Council blocked it at the request of PMO officials, while citing opposition from the security establishment.

The Shin Bet and the Mossad told the news network that neither agency had been consulted or was even familiar with the bill.

The National Security Council says it did not oppose the legislation. The PMO calls the Channel 12 report “fake news,” saying the bill is being “seriously considered,” though there is the possibility of keeping hostage release negotiations beyond the scope of the bill.

Qatar is one of the states mediating the talks, though Israeli officials now publicly blame Doha for Hamas not accepting recent compromise proposals.