Gadi Eizenkot Criticizes Naftali Bennett and Yair Golan Over Qatar Policy and Defense Leadership

Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party, sharply criticized Naftali Bennett and Yair Golan during a press conference held at Kibbutz Nir Oz on Wednesday. Eizenkot dismissed Bennett's recent pledge to declare Qatar an enemy state if elected prime minister as a "political gimmick" and "election rhetoric." He emphasized that such a decision should be serious and made only after consultations with Israel's intelligence and security agencies, including Mossad, Shin Bet, and the National Security Council.

Eizenkot acknowledged Qatar's negative role against Israel in Gaza and international arenas but warned against making hasty political declarations. He also indirectly criticized Bennett's past tenure in government, implying that Bennett had opportunities to make such decisions but did not. Additionally, Eizenkot took a jab at Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, suggesting he could think of more experienced partners for the defense minister role.

These remarks respond to Bennett's statements from about a week earlier, where Bennett vowed to declare Qatar an enemy state on his first day as prime minister. Bennett accused Qatar of running an "antisemitic cancer" through Al Jazeera and claimed its hands were stained with the blood of victims from the October 7 attacks. He argued that if a commission of inquiry into the massacre were established, declaring Qatar an enemy state would be a primary recommendation.

The exchange highlights growing tensions among Israeli political and military figures ahead of the 2026 elections, with Eizenkot positioning himself as a more measured voice on security issues compared to Bennett's hardline rhetoric.