Ganz Rejects Ben-Gur’s Qatar ‘Enemy State’ Plan as Political Stunt

National Unity party leader Benny Ganz has dismissed fellow rightwinger Naftali Ben-Gur’s proposal to declare Qatar an enemy state, arguing that such a significant foreign policy decision should not be treated as an election soundbite. Ben-Gur announced the plan at a Yedioth Ahronoth conference, but Ganz, whose party leads polling forecasts, was noticeably unenthusiastic about the proposal. “This needs to be adopted as a serious decision, not as an election statement,” Ganz told ynet when questioned about the idea. The exchange highlights divisions within Israel’s right-wing bloc over how to approach one of the region’s most influential states.

Qatar, a small but wealthy Gulf monarchy, has played a significant role in Middle East politics and has been involved in ceasefire negotiations in various regional conflicts. The country has also faced criticism from some Israeli politicians over its support for Palestinian groups and its role in mediating disputes. Ben-Gur’s proposal reflects hawkish sentiment within parts of the Israeli right, though it remains unclear whether such a move would gain broader political support or what practical implications it might carry.

The exchange between Ganz and Ben-Gur underscores ongoing debates within Israeli politics about balancing strong security positions with pragmatic foreign policy considerations. Ganz’s response suggests that the National Unity party, widely expected to play a major role in post-election negotiations, intends to take a more measured approach to Middle Eastern relationships than some of its more vocal rivals.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.