In a recent interview with Israel's Channel 12, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that he intends to label Qatar an 'enemy' state should he be elected to office in upcoming elections. Bennett argued that the current diplomatic status of Qatar is 'unforgivable' given the country's role in the region.

Bennett’s criticism centers on two main points: the financial support he alleges Qatar provided to the Nukhba forces involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks, and the influence of the Qatari-owned media network, Al Jazeera. During the interview, Bennett went as far as to characterize Qatar as a greater threat to Israel than Iran. He contrasted the two by noting that while Iran’s hostility toward Israel is overt and universally recognized, he views Qatar’s influence as more insidious and damaging to Israeli security interests.

This proposal marks a significant escalation in rhetoric regarding Israel's diplomatic relations with Gulf nations. While Bennett’s comments reflect a hardline stance on regional security, the proposal has not yet been addressed by the current Israeli government or Qatari officials. The statement highlights a growing divide in Israeli political discourse regarding how to handle international actors that maintain complex relationships with both Israel and militant groups like Hamas.