.Qatar Offers to Host Israeli Delegation
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Qatar's offer to host the first high-level Israeli delegation to the Persian Gulf in a decade is another sign the oil- and gas-rich emirate wants to boost its status as a regional player.
Qatar is home to Washington's Mideast military headquarters, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Qatar also gives aid to the militant group Hamas and is under pressure from the U.S. to help efforts to bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli officials said Wednesday that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni tentatively planned to travel to Qatar next week for a U.N. conference on new or restored democracies.
Although Livni would be visiting for an international conference and not for talks with the Qatari government, the trip would be significant. She would be the most senior Israeli official to visit Qatar since then-Prime Minister Shimon Peres traveled there in 1996.
The Israelis hope to enlist Qatar's help in winning the release of Israeli soldiers held by Hamas and Hezbollah. Long-term, Israeli leaders want to build contacts with moderate Arab states to counter the influence of Iran's anti-Israel government.
Even if Livni's trip falls through, the fact that Qatar agreed to the invitation marks a major step in its rise from dusty, pearl-diving backwater to regional prominence.
A peninsula slightly smaller than Connecticut jutting into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia, Qatar has hosted major conferences of the World Trade Organization, World Economic Forum and the Nonaligned Movement. Later this year it is due to stage the Asian Games.
But dealing with Israel is a touchier matter.
Qatar's overture to Israel puts it squarely in opposition to public opinion and government policies around the Gulf, where the Jewish state is vilified for its military offensives in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
Most Arabs blame the political and social problems of the Middle East on the failure to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians - and they hold the Israelis primarily responsible.
"People here blame the Israelis for 95 or 99 percent of these problems," said Muhammad al-Musfir, a political scientist at Qatar University. "No government will dare to have an open discussion with the Israelis without concessions."
But Qatar has strategic reasons for inviting the Israeli foreign minister, said Abdullah Sahar, a political science professor at Kuwait University.
One is Qatar's fear of being swallowed up by Saudi Arabia. The Qataris believe that threat becomes less likely as their country plays a more important role on the world stage.
"Qataris feel they are under the tent of Saudi Arabia and they are trying to get out of it," Sahar said. "However, distinguishing themselves by having ties with Israel in this tense situation is for most people akin to a type of political prostitution."
For its part, Saudi Arabia complains Qatar is using its widely watched Al-Jazeera television, headquartered in the Qatari capital of Doha, to broadcast anti-Saudi programs. The Saudis also accuse Qatar of undermining Arab unity.
"Qatar feels squeezed by the Saudis and obsessed with fear that the kingdom will swallow it one day," said Mohammed Saeed Idres at the Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies.
Israel, meanwhile, is eager to rally support among moderate Arab states to counter the influence of Iran, which the Israelis consider a long-term strategic threat.
An Israeli official said Israel is particularly worried Iran's nuclear power program will lead to the Persian nation getting atomic bombs and added that Arab states also see that as a threat.
"This is the common basis that we are also threatened by Iran. Maybe we can cooperate," said the official, who agreed to discuss Livni's planned trip only if not quoted by name, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
Livni's visit could also help secure Qatari help in winning the release of two Israeli soldiers held by Hezbollah in Lebanon and a third soldier captured by Palestinian militants.
The U.S. also began pressing Qatar to use its ties to Hamas to win the release of the captive Israeli after mediation efforts by Egypt and Jordan failed.
During a regional conference in Egypt this month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked Arab leaders from the Persian Gulf region for help. Diplomats said Qatar was Rice's main focus because of its ties to the United States, Israel and Hamas.
"The Qataris tried and are still trying to negotiate different initiatives to overcome gaps inside the Palestinian camp, and between the Palestinians and Israelis," the Israeli official said.
MyWay
I think this is more decoy. In the guise of good cop, bad cop this time. We will see.
Qatar is home to Washington's Mideast military headquarters, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Qatar also gives aid to the militant group Hamas and is under pressure from the U.S. to help efforts to bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli officials said Wednesday that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni tentatively planned to travel to Qatar next week for a U.N. conference on new or restored democracies.
Although Livni would be visiting for an international conference and not for talks with the Qatari government, the trip would be significant. She would be the most senior Israeli official to visit Qatar since then-Prime Minister Shimon Peres traveled there in 1996.
The Israelis hope to enlist Qatar's help in winning the release of Israeli soldiers held by Hamas and Hezbollah. Long-term, Israeli leaders want to build contacts with moderate Arab states to counter the influence of Iran's anti-Israel government.
Even if Livni's trip falls through, the fact that Qatar agreed to the invitation marks a major step in its rise from dusty, pearl-diving backwater to regional prominence.
A peninsula slightly smaller than Connecticut jutting into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia, Qatar has hosted major conferences of the World Trade Organization, World Economic Forum and the Nonaligned Movement. Later this year it is due to stage the Asian Games.
But dealing with Israel is a touchier matter.
Qatar's overture to Israel puts it squarely in opposition to public opinion and government policies around the Gulf, where the Jewish state is vilified for its military offensives in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
Most Arabs blame the political and social problems of the Middle East on the failure to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians - and they hold the Israelis primarily responsible.
"People here blame the Israelis for 95 or 99 percent of these problems," said Muhammad al-Musfir, a political scientist at Qatar University. "No government will dare to have an open discussion with the Israelis without concessions."
But Qatar has strategic reasons for inviting the Israeli foreign minister, said Abdullah Sahar, a political science professor at Kuwait University.
One is Qatar's fear of being swallowed up by Saudi Arabia. The Qataris believe that threat becomes less likely as their country plays a more important role on the world stage.
"Qataris feel they are under the tent of Saudi Arabia and they are trying to get out of it," Sahar said. "However, distinguishing themselves by having ties with Israel in this tense situation is for most people akin to a type of political prostitution."
For its part, Saudi Arabia complains Qatar is using its widely watched Al-Jazeera television, headquartered in the Qatari capital of Doha, to broadcast anti-Saudi programs. The Saudis also accuse Qatar of undermining Arab unity.
"Qatar feels squeezed by the Saudis and obsessed with fear that the kingdom will swallow it one day," said Mohammed Saeed Idres at the Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies.
Israel, meanwhile, is eager to rally support among moderate Arab states to counter the influence of Iran, which the Israelis consider a long-term strategic threat.
An Israeli official said Israel is particularly worried Iran's nuclear power program will lead to the Persian nation getting atomic bombs and added that Arab states also see that as a threat.
"This is the common basis that we are also threatened by Iran. Maybe we can cooperate," said the official, who agreed to discuss Livni's planned trip only if not quoted by name, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
Livni's visit could also help secure Qatari help in winning the release of two Israeli soldiers held by Hezbollah in Lebanon and a third soldier captured by Palestinian militants.
The U.S. also began pressing Qatar to use its ties to Hamas to win the release of the captive Israeli after mediation efforts by Egypt and Jordan failed.
During a regional conference in Egypt this month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked Arab leaders from the Persian Gulf region for help. Diplomats said Qatar was Rice's main focus because of its ties to the United States, Israel and Hamas.
"The Qataris tried and are still trying to negotiate different initiatives to overcome gaps inside the Palestinian camp, and between the Palestinians and Israelis," the Israeli official said.
MyWay
I think this is more decoy. In the guise of good cop, bad cop this time. We will see.
posted by madtom at 2:13 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home