Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar shatters Gulf’s faith in US protection | Qatar
On Thursday, Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, pioneered a funeral in the state mosque. When he was besieged by the White Thobes officials, he prayed on six coffins – one poured into the Qatar flag and carrying five Palestinian flags.
Israel’s strike to Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday, killed a Qatar officer, an unprecedented moment for the Gulf Kingdom. The attack reduces the assumption of Qatar foreign policy for thirty years and echoed in the Arab region: Be useful for the United States and will protect you.
Qatar was useful. He facilitated peace talks between Israel and Hamas, did the same with the Taliban and the US during the war in Afghanistan, and hosts the largest American military base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Airbase.
For decades, arrangements have been made. The US supplied weapons, parked the aircraft carrier in the Gulf and provided internationally political cover. Despite the competition with Iran, support helped the Gulf nations from the unrest, which consumed most of the Middle East.
Although this was one of Israel’s closest allies, the USA changed when he could not stop his strike in Qatar. Donald Trump said he was trying to give a warning, but Qatar said that it was only informed after the strike.
In an interview with CNN, Doha strongly condemned the strike that al-Thani calls “state terror”.
“I have no word to express how angry we are from such an action… This state terror. We are betrayed,” he said.
Although Trump tends to see international relations as transactions, diplomats say that the strike has wounded the trust between the Gulf and the United States that has existed since the 1930s.
“There are real repercussions for this relationship, Pat former US Ambassador Patrick Theros, who helped to create the Al Udeid base, said.
“The Gulf, starting with Saudi Arabia, believes that their security and stability is still connected to America.
The message from the strike wasn’t that Washington could not control Israel, which he armed and equipped with tens of billions of dollars, but he doesn’t want to restrain him. Trump’s ability to recall the Jets of Israel on his way to bomb Tehran showed that he was leverage when he chose.
International Crisis Group Project Director Yasmine Farouk said, “The Perception in the Gulf does not want to stop Israel and at best does not care about the sovereignty of the Gulf allies,” he said.
The reaction between the Gulf states was immediately. In spite of the past cleft in the past, Qatar and his neighbors saw the attack as an attack on all collective sovereignty.
Many of them pioneered a diplomacy rush that led by the UAE. Qatar welcomed Jordan’s UAE President and Egyptian Foreign Minister. On Sunday, Doha will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit.
“Israel’s echoes in Gaza and military campaigns in the region bring together the Gulf states, Far said Farouk. “I think this will be a moment when they try to take action from solidarity.”
In the short term, there will be little change in Washington relations. The US is still the basis of the security and economic order in the Gulf and is not a hasty disintegration on cards.
However, the Gulf States may quietly begin to reject American demands.
Trump’s main attempt in the region, Ibrahim agreements, more Arab state registration is more than ever. The relationship between the UAE and Israel already calls the Ambassador of Israel. The US access to the Gulf capital may also be in danger.
If the United States stops holding the side of Quid Pro Quo, the Gulf can quietly re -evaluate the return he receives in his investments. It may be too late when the US noticed.
“This will be the small things that are rejected, but they will accumulate. We will not notice at first, but Qatar will stop taking a chance on our behalf,” he said.
