Qatar Condemns Naftali Bennett's Claims; Bennett Vows to Declare Qatar an Enemy State

The Qatari Embassy in the United States issued a strong condemnation against former Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the "Together" party, Naftali Bennett, following his statements threatening to declare Qatar an enemy state if he returns to power. The embassy accused Bennett of deliberately spreading false information to advance his political ambitions and emphasized Qatar's recognized role in promoting regional security and stability. Qatar highlighted its humanitarian efforts in Gaza, coordinated with Israeli authorities and international bodies, including facilitating ceasefires and securing the release of Israeli hostages.

The Qatari statement, released by media attaché Ali Al-Ansari, rejected Bennett's accusations and urged Israeli politicians critical of Qatar to focus on Israel's internal challenges instead. It also asserted that Israeli disinformation campaigns would not deter Qatar from continuing its peace and security efforts regionally and globally.

In response, Bennett sharply accused Qatar of bearing responsibility for the October 7 massacre, claiming it financed the attacks and hosts terrorist leaders in Doha. He stated that Qatar never condemned the massacre and celebrated the violence against Israeli civilians. Bennett declared, "Qatar is an enemy, and we will declare it as such." This exchange reflects escalating tensions between Bennett and Qatar amid ongoing regional security concerns.