Al-Araby al-Jadeed, London, July 5
The duplicity of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt never ceases to amaze me. Their decision to boycott Qatar adds an ugly chapter to the book of indignities unfolding in our region; a list that already includes actions like the recent transfer of two islands from Egypt to Saudi Arabia and the abhorrent Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip. This current boycott is yet another manifestation of how Zionist-backed Western agendas have come to plague our societies. Look for example at the list of demands given to Qatar: one condition for lifting the siege calls Doha to end all of its trade ties with Iran. Have we ever stopped, however, to consider the relationship between the boycotting countries themselves and Iran? How can these governments make such extravagant demands from Qatar, while allowing their own citizens to trade with Iranian businesses? Furthermore, is it not normal for Doha to reach out to new trade partners after its neighbors in the Gulf turned their backs against it? Similarly, unfair demands were made in regard to Qatar’s security collaboration with Turkey. Why is the presence of Turkish military forces in Qatar such a source of concern for Gulf States, while these very same countries openly welcome American, British, and French forces into their territories. Even more infuriating are the demands related to the Qatari press. Why has Al-Jazeera, an independent Qatari satellite network, become illegitimate in the eyes of these boycotting states, while their own TV channels – such as Al-Arabiya and Sky Arabic – remain lawful news outlets? The answer to all of these questions is rather simple: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt are puppets at the hands of Western powers, trying to use diplomatic coercion to achieve a competitive advantage over Qatar. Thus, the list of demands given to Qatar is a shame to the intelligence of the Qatari people. It undermines Doha’s sovereignty and seeks to challenge its political power through an unlawful embargo on innocent civilians. I would suggest that the implementation of such demands begin not with Qatar, but with its boycotters instead. – Seif Eddin Abd al-Fatah
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