Eisenkot: "Declare Qatar an enemy state? You don't do that as a political gimmick"
At the Yedioth Ahronoth and INSS conference, Naftali Bennett announced he would declare Qatar an enemy state. However, Yashar! chairman Gadi Eisenkot was skeptical: "It should be a serious decision, not an election gimmick," he stated.
"The State of Israel must examine and make decisions regarding its policy toward Qatar. But I do not suggest doing this as a political gimmick. I say this as someone who knows the issue closely from the cabinet — it must be accepted as a serious decision, not as an election statement." This was said this afternoon by the chairman of the Yashar! party, Gadi Eisenkot, responding to Naftali Bennett, who announced at the Yedioth Ahronoth and INSS conference that he would declare Qatar an enemy state on his first day as prime minister.
Eisenkot, who visited Nir Oz, added in response to a ynet question:
"I hear the discourse and fully accept the negative role that Qatar plays against Israel — in Gaza and in international activity. The State of Israel must examine and make decisions regarding its policy toward Qatar, in consultation with the Mossad, Shin Bet, and the National Security Council."
Yesterday, Bennett arrived in Netiv HaAsara in the Gaza envelope and again announced that he would define Qatar as an enemy state. "A direct line connects the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem to what is happening here behind the fence: Benjamin Netanyahu gave up on eliminating Hamas, brought Qatar into the Prime Minister's Office, and then gave the Qataris the keys to Gaza," he said. He added that "whoever is unable to define Qatar as an enemy is unable to defeat the enemy, Hamas."
Alongside hostage survivor Gadi Moses, Eisenkot promised again today to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre at the first cabinet meeting if he wins the election. When asked about Yair Golan potentially becoming the next defense minister, Eisenkot replied:
"I will not give grades to party leaders. All the preoccupation with distributing positions is premature. I can think of partners and party leaders more experienced for this position."
On the question of security for residents of the Gaza envelope, he answered: "I never had any illusions about Hamas. It is a murderous organization. Unlike Benjamin Netanyahu, I did not see Hamas as a partner but as an enemy that must be destroyed. Israel must not make compromises out of weakness, but act out of concern for Israel's interests."
