Khaberni - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's apology to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for a raid targeting Hamas leaders in Doha has sparked a wave of anger inside Israel.
Israeli officials have sharply criticized the move, describing it as "humiliation and prostration," and there was limited support for it, seen as a "painful necessity" to achieve the strategic goal of returning kidnapped individuals from Gaza.
Netanyahu issued the apology to Qatar during a phone call from the White House, during a meeting with US President Donald Trump, initiated and mediated directly by the latter.
According to diplomatic sources, Trump explicitly asked Netanyahu to apologize for violating Qatari sovereignty, as part of broader efforts to reorganize relations between Israel and Qatar, and to advance ceasefire negotiations and a prisoner exchange deal.
The White House later confirmed that the call involving Trump, Netanyahu, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was "constructive," and that the American president expressed his desire to "put relations between Israel and Qatar on a positive track after years of misunderstanding and tension."
Officials added that "Netanyahu expressed his deep regret for the unintentional killing of a Qatari security officer during a military operation targeting five Hamas activists in Doha," referring to the "Fire Summit" operation conducted in early September.
The operation, which resulted in the deaths of two companions of Hamas leaders alongside a Qatari security officer, sparked Doha's anger, prompting the US administration to urgently intervene to contain the crisis, especially given Qatar's pivotal role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas in prisoner release negotiations.
However, inside Israel, the apology was not welcomed. Instead, it quickly became a sharp political battleground, spanning from the far right to the far left.
The most vehement attackers included Finance Minister and head of the "Religious Zionism" party, Bezalel Smotrich, who described the apology as a "humiliating apology" and a "disgrace."
Smotrich wrote on his platform: "Today is the anniversary of the Munich Agreement (September 29, 1938). As was the case then, so it is today, the famous words of Winston Churchill echo: England could have chosen between disgrace and war; it chose disgrace and will thus have the war also. Apologizing to a state that funds and supports terrorism is not only weakness but betrayal of principles."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the raid in Doha, saying: "Targeting the perpetrators of the October 7 massacre in a hostile state like Qatar was an extremely important, just, and unparalleled ethical act... It's time to tell the world the truth: Qatar is a state that supports, finances, and incites terrorism. No amount of money can wash the terrorism off its hands."
National Affairs Minister Orit Struck expressed her dismay and asked sarcastically: "Did the Emir of Qatar apologize to the Prime Minister for the October 7 massacre?" noting that Netanyahu directed his apology to the Qatari Prime Minister, not to the Emir of the state, a step seen by some as belittling the event.
In contrast, "Israel Our Home" party leader Avigdor Lieberman harshly criticized Netanyahu personally, saying: "It's unreasonable for Netanyahu to apologize to Qatar, which has not even condemned the October 7 massacre thus far, while he has not apologized to the Israeli people for the thousands of deaths, assaulted and kidnapped individuals who fell during his tenure."
Yair Golan, leader of the "Democrats" party, described the move as "humiliation," and wrote: "It’s unbelievable. He did not apologize to the families of the prisoners who were abandoned, nor to the families of the victims whose loved ones were killed, nor to the kibbutzim that were burned, nor to the fathers of the dead soldiers or hundreds of thousands of reservists sold to the Haredim. But he apologized to the Prime Minister of Qatar!.. Netanyahu apologized to the man who funded with hundreds of millions the October massacre, with his money tunnels were built, weapons were bought, Jews were killed, and families were abducted. To this enemy of Israel, this enemy of Jews, Netanyahu groveled and prostrated. Netanyahu is weak and submissive. He was and will remain a strategic partner to Hamas and Qatar. And he will not be forgiven for that, not this Yom Kippur, nor in a hundred forthcoming Yom Kippurs."
Golan added: "What kind of deal is struck with someone who funds killers? What kind of negotiations with one who harbors terrorism? If we truly want to end Hamas, we must first end the dependency on Qatar and its policies."
Conversely, there were supportive voices, albeit limited. Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Ghila Gamliel, defended Netanyahu, saying in an official statement: "Mr. Prime Minister, we express our full confidence in your leadership and your diplomatic and security policies. Your extensive experience and the wisdom of your decisions are a firm pillar in these challenging times. We are certain that your decisions stem from a deep responsibility towards the future of the State of Israel. Together, we will continue to strengthen the security of the nation and enhance its standing in the world. The people stand behind you with determination and pride."
MP Gilad Kariv linked the apology to the "Qatar Gate affair," which revolves around suspicions involving Netanyahu's close associates receiving money from Doha. Kariv said: "How far is the gap between Netanyahu's provocative speech after the attack on Qatar and his retreat and humiliating apology to the hosts of the terrorists! This is the fate you reach when you fund a murderous terrorist organization for years, giving a hostile government access to your office instead of making courageous decisions. The prisoners must be returned. The war must end. And Qatar's agents must be expelled from here."
Even among the far right, statements were not devoid of cutting sarcasm. Minister of Heritage, Amichai Eliyahu, jokingly said: "Mr. Prime Minister, the only apology the Qataris deserve is that we were unable to wipe these curs off the face of the earth."
