Ex-PM Bennett Urges Netanyahu to Label Qatar 'Enemy State' at UN

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has called on current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to officially designate Qatar an "enemy state" during his upcoming address to the United Nations General Assembly. Bennett, leader of the Beyahad party, believes the UN platform should be used to expose Doha's alleged role in financing Hamas and promoting antisemitism globally, especially as the third anniversary of the October 7th attack approaches. He accused the Gulf nation of funding Hamas's military wing, celebrating the October 7th massacre, and continuing to host leaders of the terrorist group. Bennett also claims Qatar finances radical Islamist terrorism and disseminates antisemitic propaganda, particularly on American university campuses.

Qatar has previously denied these accusations, with Bennett stating that the emirate has accused him of spreading political disinformation. Despite his political opposition to Netanyahu, Bennett asserted that declaring Qatar an enemy state would garner broad support across the Israeli political spectrum, from the coalition to the opposition, and from right to left. He plans to submit a "Qatar File" to the UN Secretary-General and Security Council ambassadors, which he claims will provide evidence of Qatar's direct involvement in the October 7th attack.

Bennett had previously vowed to declare Qatar an enemy state if he returned to power, accusing it of directly funding Hamas. He argued that each day Netanyahu delays this decision allows Hamas to rearm and prepare for further attacks. Notably, Netanyahu himself referred to Qatar as a "hostile state" earlier this month, while denying claims that Doha dictates Israeli policy.