Netanyahu says Arab governments privately care little about the Palestinian issue despite publicly backing a Palestinian state

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Arab governments privately place little importance on the Palestinian issue and suggested some regional leaders publicly support Palestinian statehood because they feel politically obliged to do so.

Netanyahu made the remarks in a wide-ranging interview with The Jerusalem Post published Thursday ahead of Israel’s October 27 election.

Asked whether Arab countries objected to members of his government, Netanyahu replied: “Most of them couldn’t care less. And they couldn’t care less about the Palestinian issue.”

“They said, ‘We have to say it, but we don’t mean it,’” Netanyahu said, adding that Arab governments were primarily concerned with the survival and security of their own governments.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab governments have continued publicly to support the creation of a Palestinian state. Riyadh has repeatedly said it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without a pathway to Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu also rejected criticism from U.S. Democrats, saying they wanted a “docile and subservient” Israeli government willing to accept a Palestinian state.

In another part of the interview, Netanyahu accused Qatar of helping change U.S. public opinion against Israel and described it as one of the forces behind the spread of antisemitism and anti-Zionism on American university campuses and social media.

Asked whether Qatar should remain involved as a mediator, Netanyahu said Israel had worked through Doha because the U.S. had used it in negotiations. He rejected accusations that he had been too close to Qatar, saying: “They accuse me of being pro-Qatar. I attacked Qatar.”

Netanyahu was referring to Israel’s September 2025 strike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders. Qatar has rejected Israeli claims that its financial relationships with American universities were intended to turn students against Israel.