Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said he would formally designate Qatar an enemy state if he returned to office.
In a televised interview, Bennett said he considered Qatar a greater threat to Israel than Iran.
He alleged that Qatar had financed Hamas's Nukhba unit, which took part in the 7 October 2023 attack.
Bennett also alleged that Qatar was exerting influence through US universities and attempting to penetrate Israeli security institutions.
He claimed that Qatari influence had extended to the Israeli prime minister's office.
Bennett said Israel's failure to classify Qatar as an enemy state was a serious error and a security risk.