- Netanyahu accuses China and Qatar – For the first time in over a decade, the Israeli prime minister publicly blamed Beijing and Doha for leading a delegitimization campaign against Israel, especially on social media platforms like TikTok.
- Message aimed at U.S. lawmakers – His remarks, delivered to visiting American legislators, underline Israel’s concern about the impact of digital influence operations on Western opinion, particularly among younger audiences.
- Russia left out – While Moscow is a major driver of antisemitic and anti-Israel disinformation, Netanyahu did not mention it, likely to avoid further straining ties with the Kremlin.
A rare and politically significant move. For the first time since October 7 – and likely for the first time in more than a decade of his tenure – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly accused China of leading, together with Qatar, a campaign to delegitimize Israel.
Speaking in Jerusalem during a ceremony with visiting American legislators, Netanyahu said there is “an effort to impose a siege on Israel. It is led by the same forces that support Iran, and by Iran’s attempts to strangle us militarily.” According to him, “this effort is led by two countries: China and Qatar,” which are carrying out a campaign of influence aimed at eroding Israel’s image in the United States and across the West.
The digital dimension
Netanyahu emphasized the power of social media as a weapon of disinformation. “You open your phone and you are bombarded, especially on TikTok. It is much more powerful than traditional media,” he said, pointing to a hostile narrative that has fueled anti-Israeli sentiment, particularly among younger audiences.
A message to Washington
The context is crucial: his remarks were directed at U.S. lawmakers, central interlocutors for Israel’s political and military support. Including Qatar – a long-standing ambivalent partner of Israel and at the same time a mediator with Hamas – is no surprise. More striking is the decision to single out China, a country Netanyahu has avoided criticizing in public statements until now.
The missing actor: Russia
What stands out even more is the omission of Russia. Moscow has long been one of the leading state sponsors of anti-Israeli disinformation and antisemitic content, both online and offline. Yet the prime minister made no mention of it, likely reflecting a desire to avoid further escalation with the Kremlin amid the war in Ukraine and shifting Middle Eastern dynamics.
A risky move
Netanyahu is not wrong in pointing to Beijing and Doha: China has honed sophisticated tools of digital influence, while Qatar operates powerful global media networks. The question is whether it was politically wise to make this accusation openly. His words risk widening Israel’s diplomatic friction precisely at a time when the country relies more than ever on international support – above all from the United States.
(Photo: X, @netanyahu)
