Bennett accuses Qatar of funding October 7 massacre, 'worked to eliminate State of Israel'

By103FMJULY 28, 2026 13:06Former prime minister Naftali Bennett accused Qatar of financing the October 7 massacre and conducting a decades-long campaign to undermine Israel, speaking in a Monday interview with 103FM.“Qatar financed the October 7 massacre. Qatar’s hands are stained with the blood of those who were murdered and raped, of our hostages and our fallen,” Bennett said. “For 25 years, Qatar has systematically worked to eliminate the State of Israel, but unlike Iran, it does so with tremendous sophistication. It operates not only through direct terrorism, but also through instruments of influence, such as gaining a foothold in American universities and influencing their faculties. October 7 must change the picture.”Bennett also addressed the investigations surrounding the Prime Minister’s Office.“As of now, Qatar has created a terrible influence operation. It is like a violent antisemitic cancer that sends its metastases throughout the world, including into the office of Israel’s prime minister,” he said. “I do not know why Netanyahu has not declared Qatar an enemy state. It could be because his office is connected to it. It does not smell right.“At this moment, hundreds of people in Israel are receiving money from Qatar. Something enormous happened on October 7, and it was a wake-up call. We now know the facts, and we know that Qatar financed this massacre. They have our people abducted, they cause our soldiers to be killed, and our hands are tied because we have not defined them as an enemy.”Chairman of the “Together” party and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)Bennett addresses meeting with Shin Bet headBennett was later asked about his meeting with Shin Bet head Zini and whether Zini would remain in office if Bennett were elected prime minister.“My impression was that Zini was a professional officer who acted in the interests of the State of Israel,” Bennett said. “I have also said that every public servant who acts professionally and in the interests of the State of Israel during this period will remain in office, even if appointed by the current government. Public servants who use their positions for politics or political needs will be replaced.”Addressing the conversation with Zini, Bennett said: “The conversation with Zini should not have become public. I was invited, and I kept it secret. Zini summoned me and asked for advice on several matters. I always report for duty when Israel’s security is concerned. He asked me for advice on security matters, of course.“When we establish a government of national repair, I will examine whether every officeholder is acting in the interests of Israel’s citizens. When I enter office, I summon the head of the Shin Bet and the head of the Mossad, as I did the previous time I took office. If I see that they are acting professionally and objectively, they remain in their positions.”Bennett also warned of foreign influence on social media.“I see significant influence by foreign actors on social media. You can see it,” he said. “There is also extensive use of bots and similar tools from within Israel. Broadly speaking, our enemies want chaos. They want internal hatred within Israel.“Even if they did nothing, there are people among us who sow the same chaos and the same lack of trust in one another without any help from our enemies. It comes from all directions, but for many years Netanyahu has operated a system, a ‘poison machine,’ that spreads hatred and hostility on social media on a massive scale. It was already operating when I was prime minister.“There is harmful activity in every camp, but I think Netanyahu is much more effective. These things are well known. One day, while serving as prime minister, I discovered that my mother was supposedly Christian and that I had renovated my home for NIS 50 million. It was a complete lie. I think our enemies want chaos, and when there is chaos, they win.”'I wish him success': Bennett says about Netanyahu's meeting with TrumpAhead of a planned meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, Bennett said: “I wish the Prime Minister success. That is in Israel’s overall interest.“Recently, we have seen a dynamic in which Israel is not being taken into account, and decisions about our fate are being made over our heads. We saw it in Gaza, in Iran, in the US agreement with Qatar, and also with Turkey. In every arena, we do not have a seat at the table where our fate is being decided.“That is not good. It was not like this in the past. It reflects very significant weakness, and we will also have to correct that in the next government.”Bennett then criticized the Netanyahu government’s achievements regarding Iran, Qatar, and Gaza.“The test is the outcome,” he said. “Relationships are a tool for achieving results, and the question is what you do with them. The goals that the Israeli government set regarding Iran, for example, were not achieved. Its nuclear program was not dismantled, its ballistic missile production was not dismantled, and its regional octopus was not dismantled.“The US defense agreement with Qatar is also highly problematic for Israel. All these things are being done over our heads. For example, we moved to phase two of bringing international troops into Gaza while Erdogan and Qatar are part of that same framework. Judged by the results, the situation is not good.”Finally, Bennett addressed the possibility of cooperation with Gadi Eisenkot and other parties following the election.“Gadi is a dear man. He is a partner. We are working to replace this terrible government,” Bennett said. “We will also know how to work together with Liberman and the other players.“I am turning to the Israeli public, and I have stopped talking to them about mergers and things like that. I am telling the people of Israel how we will repair the country. I think the Israeli public must ask itself who can repair the State of Israel, who has the most experience, and which team is the most experienced and professional when it comes to dealing with Israel’s real problems.“Of course, all the Zionist parties that want to repair the State of Israel will sit together. Gadi is a dear man, and we will know how to work things out.”Follow us on Google