Bennett vows again to declare Qatar 'an enemy' if re-elected as Israeli PM

Press TV reported on August 2, 2026 that former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett once again vowed to formally declare Qatar an enemy state if he is re-elected to the premiership, marking the latest in a series of escalating statements against the Gulf emirate. The Iranian state-affiliated outlet's coverage of Bennett's remarks highlights the regional significance of his anti-Qatar campaign. Bennett reiterated his core accusations: that Qatar directly funded the Nukhba force, the elite Hamas unit responsible for the October 7, 2023 attacks; that Al Jazeera operates as a 'poisonous cancer' spreading Qatari propaganda; that Qatar's billions in American university funding have corrupted academic discourse on the Middle East; and that through the Qatargate scandal, Qatar gained improper access and influence over the Israeli Prime Minister's office. Bennett's repeated pledges to designate Qatar as an enemy state represent a potential paradigm shift in Israeli foreign policy, as the Gulf state has long been tolerated as a mediator in hostage negotiations and regional diplomacy despite its hosting of Hamas leaders and documented financial support for extremist organizations. The coverage by an Iranian outlet is notable, as it reflects Tehran's interest in the growing rift between Israel and Qatar, two countries that Iran views through its own strategic lens.