{
  "id": 27725,
  "title": "Former Israeli prime minister vows to declare Qatar ‘enemy’ if elected",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/former-israeli-prime-minister-vows-to-declare-qatar-enemy-if-elected",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-02T04:14:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/former-israeli-prime-minister-vows-declare-qatar-enemy-if-elected"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has pledged to label Qatar as an adversary if elected to office later this year, asserting that such a designation is \"unforgivable\" that it remains unmade. In an interview with Channel 12, Bennett characterized Qatar as \"more perilous\" to Israel currently than Iran. He contended that Iran's intentions are overt, stating that \"everyone knows\" Iran aims to \"destroy Israel.\" However, Bennett argued that Qatar has been \"funding the Nukhba terrorists of October 7 [2023]\" and operates Al Jazeera, which he deemed \"the most poisonous cancer hurting us.\" Bennett further alleged that Qatar exerts influence in American universities and possesses access to \"the most sacred place for the security of Israel — that is the office of the prime minister of Israel.\" He expressed outrage that Israel has not classified Qatar as an enemy state, lamenting, \"Qatar works against us and poisons us from within.\"",
  "summary": "Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has declared his intention to label Qatar as an \"enemy\" if elected into government, stating that Qatar is \"more dangerous\" to Israel than Iran. In an interview with Channel 12, Bennett expressed his frustration with Israel's unwillingness to classify Qatar as an enemy state, arguing that Qatar has funded the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks and operates Al Jazeera, which he deems as a \"poisonous cancer\" hurting Israel. Bennett further accused Qatar of having influence in American universities and access to the prime minister's office, claiming that Qatar works against Israel and poisons it from within.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/27725.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}