Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he would formally designate Qatar an “enemy state” if he returns to power. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, cited in a report published on August 2, 2026, Bennett claimed Qatar is currently more dangerous to Israel’s security than Iran.

Bennett said that not formally declaring Doha an enemy state so far was an “unforgivable mistake.” Comparing the perceived threats, he said Iran openly acknowledges that it wants to destroy Israel, while alleging that Qatar secretly financed “Nukhba” militants involved in the October 7, 2023 attack.

The former prime minister also alleged that Qatar-based Al Jazeera is conducting what he described as poisonous propaganda against Israel around the world. He expressed concern over Qatar’s international influence, claiming it has expanded its influence at leading universities in the United States. Bennett further claimed that this covert influence extends beyond foreign countries and educational institutions to Israel’s most sensitive security areas, including the prime minister’s office, and accused Qatar of seeking to weaken Israel from within.