Qatar makes things difficult for itself
From the start of the ongoing crisis with Qatar two months ago, Doha has shown itself to be confused and in a bad situation. It does not know how to deal with the boycott, or how to resolve its differences with its neighbors or with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Qatar is a member. Doha has been found out, and has lost its cover for interfering in our countries.
This impasse is creating a Qatari policy that goes directly against the interests and stability of the GCC countries. The boycott of Qatar was put into place to deter it from resorting to this policy, and to remind it that the 2013-2014 treaty was signed by its Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. Doha should be wise and try to solve the problem without making the situation worse for Qatar and its people. But it has worsened matters.
Many believe Qatar supports extremists and the Muslim Brotherhood. Doha decided on its policies after Sheikh Tamim’s father took power in the 1995 coup. Qatar has clearly refused to honor its commitments to stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.
It agreed not to fund terrorists, not to incite trouble in other countries, not to allow Al Jazeera to be used as a platform by extremists, and to cease its dangerous and destructive relations with Iran and its terrorist militias. What we are seeing today is the result of the decisions made by the former Qatari ruler, Sheikh Hamad, who had an anti-GCC agenda and willingly worked with Iran and used it as a tool of destruction in our region.
How can Doha maintain good relations with Tehran? Iran is the principal state undermining our stability, and its malign influence in four Arab capitals has resulted in the deaths of millions of Arabs.
Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri
Qatar is looking for solutions from outside the Gulf, namely Turkey and Iran. That shows where Doha wants to go and what its strategy is. In this case, it was easy for it to be a part of another group or alliance. Qatar tried to show that it was with Arabs and Muslims, but it is lying. Anyone with a basic knowledge of the region’s politics understands that most of our problems come from Iran and its export of terror since its satanic revolution in 1979.
How can Qatar maintain good relations with Iran if Doha is serious about wanting to support Arab causes? Iran is the principal state undermining our stability, and its malign influence in four Arab capitals has resulted in the deaths of millions of Arabs. Meanwhile, Doha is using the Palestinian cause to gain more empathy even though its relations with Israel began in 1996, when Israel opened a commercial office in Doha. Qatar also exported gas to Israel.
Actions speak louder than words, so we look at Doha’s policy of funding militias such as Hezbollah and making them heroes on Al Jazeera, and of funding Houthi terrorists and Iranian militias stirring up turbulence in Bahrain. There was also support for Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi in Iraq, and providing help to Al-Qaeda and Daesh. All this shows very well that Doha has not kept its promises, and will only make things worse for itself.
• Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri is a political analyst and international relations scholar.
