Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday on 103FM that he does not understand why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not declared Qatar an enemy state, suggesting the reason may be related to ties between Netanyahu's office and Qatar. Bennett also claimed that hundreds of people in Israel receive money from Qatar and work to advance Qatari interests.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett escalated his criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday morning, using a radio interview to question why Netanyahu has not designated Qatar an enemy state. Speaking on 103FM, Bennett said he sees no reason for the delay and suggested that the connection between Qatar and Netanyahu's office may be the explanation. "It doesn't smell good," Bennett said.
Bennett's remarks follow a series of similar statements. As The Zioneer reported on July 27, Bennett told the INSS conference that Qatar is "a cancer that sends metastases to the West and even to the Prime Minister's office" and pledged to declare Qatar an enemy state if he returns to power. Last week, Bennett also commented on the indictment of a Netanyahu aide, Uriq, who faces charges related to Qatari ties, saying the prime minister "fears Uriq and cannot act."
The former prime minister's latest salvo comes amid ongoing debate over Qatar's role in the region, including its funding of Al Jazeera and its ties to Hamas. Successive Israeli governments have maintained diplomatic channels with Doha despite security concerns. Bennett's call to declare Qatar an enemy state would represent a sharp break from that policy.
- StrongBennett accuses Qatar of 'metastasizing' to the West and the Prime Minister's office
- StrongBennett accuses Qatar of funding Al Jazeera in global influence campaign
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Turkey is not an enemy state, but their definition of us bothers me
- DevelopingBennett slams Netanyahu over Qatar-linked aide indictment, says PM 'fears Uriq'
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