Nir Barkat Calls to Designate Qatar as Terror-Sponsoring State

Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat has called on the government to officially designate Qatar as a terror-supporting state, accusing the Gulf nation of being the world’s leading financier of terrorism. Barkat’s comments came during a keynote appearance at the Israel Defense and Security Forum’s "Year of Opportunity" National Security Conference, co-hosted by Channel 14.

"Qatar is the biggest terror financier in the world,” Barkat declared. “They fund the Taliban, ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood. They invest a trillion dollars globally on U.S. campuses, in sports, in media. They are a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Barkat emphasized the urgency of confronting Qatar’s subversive global reach, which he said undermines Israel’s international standing and distorts hostage negotiations. “They have no place here,” he insisted, calling for legislation to remove anyone in Israel connected to Qatari operations.

He urged that Qatar be declared a “bitter enemy” of the Jewish state, saying, “We must distance them from us in every possible way.”

On the Palestinian issue, Barkat reiterated his firm rejection of a two-state solution and proposed an alternative: autonomous zones for Palestinian residents in Judea and Samaria under the condition they recognize the State of Israel. “Do they want to become Gaza or Dubai?” he asked. “If they recognize us, we’ll help them. If not they’ll become Gaza.”

He also slammed both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, calling one “a carcass” and the other “treif,” asserting neither group is interested in coexisting with Israel.

Former National Security Council head Prof. Jacob Nagel also addressed the forum, warning of a growing manpower crisis in the IDF and calling for a doctrinal shift from passive defense to proactive deterrence. “Quiet at any cost is no longer acceptable,” he said. “We must be proactive. When the IDF takes the initiative, it wins more easily.”

Education Minister Yoav Kisch emphasized that only sustained military pressure on Hamas will yield the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. “The only time Hamas returns hostages is when it feels real pressure,” he said, advocating for more aggressive ground operations and limitations on humanitarian aid.

Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan concluded by denouncing the United Nations as a lost cause, claiming it serves Hamas’s agenda and has abandoned impartiality.

The conference made clear that Israel’s security establishment is increasingly unified in confronting its enemies with decisive, unapologetic force whether through military pressure, regional diplomacy, or international exposure of terror sponsors.

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