Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told i24NEWS that the debate surrounding Qatar amounts to a “big hoax”. He asserted that Israel has already taken military action against the Gulf nation, stating, “I attacked Qatar, and not only that, I bombed it and launched attacks on it during the war, and in turn, it attacked me.”
Netanyahu added that, despite Qatar’s hostile posture, the country has not forced any demands or conditions on Israel. “All this controversy around Qatar is nothing but a big hoax. Qatar is a hostile state, but it has not imposed its conditions or will on us here in any way whatsoever,” he said.
The prime minister’s remarks appeared to respond to comments made by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who has repeatedly argued that Israel should formally label Qatar as an enemy state. Bennett’s criticism suggested that the current government was not taking sufficient steps to designate Qatar as hostile, a point Netanyahu refuted by emphasizing the existing military confrontations.
Netanyahu’s interview highlighted his view that the issue has been exaggerated in public discourse. By characterising the controversy as a hoax, he signalled that, in his assessment, Israel’s policy toward Qatar is already firm and that further diplomatic labeling is unnecessary. The statements were made amid ongoing regional tensions, though no new developments were reported in the interview.
The exchange underscores a continuing debate within Israel’s political leadership over how to handle relations with Qatar, a state that has been accused of supporting groups opposed to Israeli interests. While Netanyahu maintains that Israel’s actions have already addressed any threat, former premier Bennett continues to press for a more explicit designation of Qatar as an adversary.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/netanyahu-dismisses-all-controversy-around-qatar-big-hoax.