WASHINGTON (THE THURSDAY TIMES) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare diplomatic concession on Monday, apologising to his Qatari counterpart for Israel’s strike in Doha during a phone call placed from the White House as he met President Donald Trump.
According to people familiar with the exchange, Netanyahu spoke directly with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to express regret over the incident. The conversation coincided with a round of discussions involving a Qatari technical team stationed at the White House, underscoring the extent to which back-channel negotiations between the two countries are running alongside high-level meetings in Washington. The apology, unusual for Israel’s hawkish leader, came at a moment when both Washington and Doha are seeking to cool regional tensions and expand channels for dialogue in the wake of heightened conflict.
