Why Israel Won’t Make Qatar an Enemy

Israel and Qatar's relations are a focal point in Israel's current election season. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, running against Benjamin Netanyahu, has suggested designating Qatar as an enemy state, alleging that Israeli "influencers" and "research organizations" receive funding from Doha. This strategy aims to out-hawk Netanyahu while positioning Bennett as a centrist alternative.

Qatar's suspicion due to its ties with Hamas is a shared concern between Netanyahu's supporters and opponents. However, Israel and Qatar are unlikely to become enemies soon. For over a decade, Israel has utilized Qatar as a conduit to Hamas. The Oct. 7, 2023, attack heightened this dynamic but did not end it. Qatar maintains crucial ground operations in the Gaza Strip and needs to preserve amicable ties with Israel at the elite level.

Despite growing public hostility, both states still require each other. Historically, relations between Qatar and Israel were closer in the 1990s, with Qatar permitting an Israeli trade office and Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres visiting the emirate. Despite the strained relations post-Second Intifada, ties persisted, with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni attending a Doha conference in 2008.

However, events like Hamas's takeover of Gaza in 2007 and subsequent conflicts shifted Qatar's diplomatic approach. Qatar began distancing itself from Israel and aligning with Hamas more openly. Qatar funded Gaza's reconstruction, humanitarian efforts, and civil employee salaries, countering Israel's claims of funding Hamas. Israel and the U.S. consented to Qatar's support for Hamas's exiled leadership and funding of Gaza after Qatar received a U.S. guarantee against being labeled a state sponsor of terrorism. Overlapping interests, particularly in Gaza's situation, enabled this new arrangement.