Doha, QATAR — Whatever the result of this Israel-Hamas struggle, this tiny peninsula of a nation protruding into the Persian Gulf has cemented itself because the vital Arab state in articulating a imaginative and prescient for the Palestinian future.
The oil and pure gas-rich nation Gulf nation made a large funding within the Palestinian enclave in Gaza earlier than October 7, is taking part in an indispensable function in hostage talks between Israel and Hamas, financed a lot of the civilian infrastructure in Gaza, and hosts the media megaphone of the Al Jazeera community broadcasting in each Arabic and English. The consequence: Qatar will nearly definitely have an outsized say within the subsequent steps of the brand new order — or chaos — coming to the Middle East.
The international profile is all of the extra outstanding given the isolation and hostility near residence that Qatar not too long ago confronted. Doha survived a four-year disaster with three Gulf neighbors who blockaded the emirate over what they referred to as its assist for terrorism — which means the transnational Muslim Brotherhood group that features Hamas.
Ever since Hamas got here to energy in Gaza, Qatari officers realized that working with Hamas — a Palestinian militant motion that Israel, the U.S. and lots of governments take into account a terrorist group — could be a worthwhile probability to reinforce their standing within the Arab world as a supporter of the Palestinian trigger, even when that assist jeopardized its ties with long-established governments.
Qatar’s Middle East stance contrasted with that of Saudi Arabia, which was distancing itself from the 75-year-long Israeli-Palestinian battle, and Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which considered normalization with Israel as a matter of self-interest. Until October 7, there was widespread hypothesis that Arab governments had been able to jettison their assist for the reason for Palestinian statehood in change for higher ties with Israel — and the United States.
That suggests Qatar’s function within the current disaster might have rather more far-reaching and long-lasting results. Even if Hamas suffers defeat in its present struggle with Israel, Qatar’s emphasis on Palestinian elections and statehood goals at advancing “Islamist democracy,” first demonstrated through the Arab Spring when it backed the Muslim Brotherhood candidate for the Egyptian presidency, Mohammed Morsi, and Syrian insurgent teams.
“Once de-escalation is achieved, we can focus on more long-term solutions to the crisis,” mentioned Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as hostage negotiations had been underway. “But both Gaza and the West Bank must be one state under leadership chosen by the Palestinian people, and the only way to prevent a repeat of the war is to provide the Palestinians with a horizon for establishing a state. And who rules the Palestinians is the Palestinians’ choice.”
Mahmoud Abbas, head of the rival West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, emerged victorious within the final Palestinian presidential elections held in January 2005, securing 62% of the votes for his secular nationalist Fatah social gathering. Hamas didn’t take part in that election.
However, within the subsequent legislative elections held a yr later, Hamas received 44% of the votes and secured 74 seats, resulting in a violent energy wrestle. As a consequence, Hamas took management of Gaza, which is considerably smaller, poorer, and extra crowded than the West Bank, whereas Israel imposed a blockade of the territory now dominated by a gaggle with ties to Iran that has by no means acknowledged Israel’s proper to exist as a nation.
“It has been 16 years since the Palestinian people were allowed to choose their representatives,” mentioned Dania Koleilat Khatib, the Dubai-based head of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building. “It’s unclear whether Hamas or the PA truly represents them. In the past, there have been protests against Hamas in Gaza. Qatar is advocating for elections to be held to let the Palestinians decide who will govern them instead of leaving the decision to Israel.”
A ballot by the Arab World for Research and Development discovered that 62% of Palestinians within the West Bank have a “very positive” view of Hamas, whereas 68% “strongly supported” the October 7 assaults, which Hamas’ armed wing referred to as the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation.
A state of struggle in Gaza makes polling there inconceivable.
Domestic strain
In the times main as much as the October 7 assault, there was a rise in visits by Jewish pilgrims, lots of whom had been related to radical parts of Israel’s West Bank settler motion, to the Temple Mount-Al Aqsa advanced through the Sukkot competition prompting Muhammad Hamadeh, the Hamas spokesperson for Jerusalem, to difficulty a warning stating that “aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque will not pass normally, and Palestinian anger will have a say.”
And whereas Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani condemned “all forms of attacks targeting civilians,” there was additionally widespread anger inside Qatar, which views the problem of Jerusalem as a matter of political and non secular rights for Palestinians.
“When Muslims see that the settlers plan to replace Al Aqsa with a new temple, they are deeply disturbed and provoked,” mentioned Louay Safi, professor of politics and Islamic thought at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha. “The settlers, led by [Israeli National Security Minister Itamar] Ben Gvir, have been constantly intruding on Al Aqsa and intimidating the Muslim worshipers. The last video I saw documented an attack by Israeli police against Palestinian worshipers at Al Aqsa Mosque.”
“I know not all Israelis agree with that,” he added. “But these are now the people who are calling the shots and creating an unbearable environment in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. That is why there is a backlash and anger within the Muslim population, especially when Israel is supported by the United States, the most powerful nation on earth.”
Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim has repeatedly indicated that he sees a future with Al Aqsa below full Muslim management as a part of a two-state answer, with East Jerusalem because the capital of a Palestinian state. And within the wake of the present Israeli-Hamas struggle, even his former rival Saudi Arabia has put its diplomatic outreach to Israel on ice and re-stated its dedication to that imaginative and prescient.
“What is needed is a credible peace and a peace that lasts and that allows the Palestinians and the Israelis to live side by side in two states. Anything else will result in a continuing crisis in the region,” mentioned Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at a November 29 press convention at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Opportunities and dangers
Qatar’s embrace of Hamas and its willingness to host lots of its high political figures in Doha has not come with out value.
On Friday, Joshua Zarka, deputy director basic on strategic affairs on the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, advised Israeli military Radio that the Jewish state “will settle scores with Qatar, who played its role in everything that is connected to the strengthening of Hamas and its legitimization. We need them for the matter of the return of the abductees, but once this process is over, we will come to them for answers.”
“We will prosecute everyone who was on Hamas’ side and everyone who stands on its side now,” Mr. Zarka added.
But although the connection between Qatar and Hamas could anger the federal government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Doha has and continues to supply important property and sources to ease a few of Israel’s issues, together with some potential complications after the present struggle is concluded.
An Israeli analyst warns going after Qatar might have prices.
“No other country has the same drive as Qatar to be deeply involved in Gaza and to fill the vacuum created if Israel does indeed topple Hamas, and Qatar will undoubtedly aspire to maintain its influence over post-war Gaza, even if Hamas is no longer the central power,” mentioned Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher on the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University.
The Biden administration “is reportedly finding it hard to convince other countries like Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to be part of the reconstruction of Gaza due to Israeli ambiguity about plans for the Strip and its opposition to the proposal that the Palestinian Authority resume control,” Mr. Guzansky mentioned.
Omani political scientist Abdullah Baabood sees Sheikh Tamim, 43, as prepared and able to constructing on his outsized function on the Middle East — and world phases.
“Tamim is a young, highly educated individual trying to build a modern state where people can live in peace and prosperity. He was tested during the Gulf crisis and prevailed against influential leaders and powerful countries, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia,” mentioned Mr. Baabood, who spoke to The Washington Times in a phone interview from Oman’s capital, Muscat.
“At the same time, he is using soft power to position Qatar as an important regional player,” he added.
Sheikh Tamim “has been supportive of the United States’ position in Ukraine and played an instrumental role in releasing prisoners from Iran, helping the Americans with Afghanistan, and resolving other conflicts. It’s unlikely that the Israel-Hamas war will end, or real peace will be achieved without the emir’s and Qatar’s help.”
