Netanyahu Envoy Met Qatar Representative Day Before UN Tirade

Michael Eisenberg, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal envoy for Gaza affairs, met with Qatar's Emir's representative, Minister Ali Al-Thawadi, in New York on Wednesday. This meeting occurred just one day before Netanyahu's address at the UN General Assembly, during which he sharply criticized Qatar. The report, revealed Saturday evening by Barak Ravid on Channel 12 News, stated that Eisenberg and Al-Thawadi discussed the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for the Gaza Strip and humanitarian steps Israel committed to undertake.

The meeting took place following a session of the Peace Council focused on a preliminary rehabilitation plan for Gaza. The two officials met privately for approximately thirty minutes to discuss the situation in Gaza. Al-Thawadi, serving as the Emir of Qatar's representative, had previously participated in an apology call Netanyahu held with the Prime Minister of Qatar at the White House exactly one year prior.

Netanyahu's UN speech strongly condemned Qatar, accusing it of funding "toxic media channels like Al Jazeera" and "brainwashing youth to hate Israel, America, and the West." He also noted Qatar hosts Hamas members involved in the October 7th massacre. These remarks at the UN sparked political reactions regarding his stance on Qatar.

Despite the public criticism, the private meeting between Netanyahu's envoy and the Qatari representative, focusing on Gaza and the Trump plan, highlights a complex diplomatic dynamic. The Prime Minister's office did not respond to inquiries about the details of the New York meeting.