Is the crisis between Qatar and its neighbours over? Everyone is asking this question and awaiting an answer. Logically, a complex issue like this cannot be resolved over night. However, there have been some signs that need to be thoroughly examined.
Before going into further details, it is crucial to emphasise that Qatar’s rightful place is within its Gulf family.
Needless to say, every step taken by Doha that could help reach rapprochement is highly appreciated, and a source of joy to the GCC countries and people. This is simply because we share the same history, dreams, lineage and destiny — a fact that does not need to be proved.
Undoubtedly, all of us, in the UAE and other GCC countries, wish and pray for the good of Qatar.
In my opinion, Qatar must stay within its Gulf home, and not be out of tune with the Gulf flock.
However, this is not an invitation to sing from the very same song sheet, as this is not what we strive for because it is irrational and against any notion of development.
It is Qatar’s right within the Gulf system to have its own ideas or creative notions; this prerogative applies to all Gulf states. But on the condition that these ideas and plans do not constitute interference in the internal affairs of neighbours, or affect their security as a result of embracing opposition groups, giving naturalisation status on political grounds, and embracing and supporting obscurantist and extremist movements, especially the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ironically, there is an agreement on this within the GCC, based on ministerial meetings and shuttle diplomacy wherein Saudi Arabia played a positive role in finding solutions to get out of the crisis.
Time and again, Qatar was a part of this agreement, to fulfil its obligations towards its neighbours. So what has happened? Is Qatar’s crisis with its neighbours over?
It is wrong to contend that the deportation of seven Muslim Brotherhood leaders from Doha to Turkey has ended the crisis.
The deportation of these leaders does not mean that Qatar has stopped its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, as is clearly manifested in the Qatari media, which is still strongly involved in Qatar’s dispute with its neighbours.
The Qatari media is run by non-Qataris. In addition to Al Jazeera channel, tweeters who harm Qatar immensely have nothing to do with reality.
The joint statement from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE was inclined towards calming the media in their respective countries. This followed the tour of the Saudi, led by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal. The statements were intended at making the media contribute towards creating a state of friendliness, thus allowing an environment of understanding and generating a fertile atmosphere so as to implement the points agreed upon.
GCC countries are concerned about Qatar. The question is: what is Qatar concerned about?
Unfortunately, the Qatari media continues with its abusive style and condescending manner. It also takes the side of those who deliberately publish falsehoods.
The Qatari media’s deliberate effort to black out news across the region and the world has made matters worse. They have fiddled with news beyond all reasonable limits, and they have withheld information that is of interest to Qatari citizens in the media.
It seems clear from the Qatari political moves at the highest levels that this line of action was deliberate.
Efforts to prevent Doha from financing Daesh (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) have proved to be futile, despite the use of all available tools of persuasion.
The attempts were desperate, but Qatar’s doors were closed.
Moreover, the current crisis is the result of the seeds that were planted earlier.
In the past, these policies went below the radar. However, they will not go unnoticed today. The world may forgive matters related to Qatar’s hosting of the Fifa World Cup but financing terrorism is a completely different issue.
This is what puts Qatar’s national policy in a defensive position. Doha is definitely isolated, and has been unable to break free from this isolation by things like negotiating the release of western hostages.
What is the reason? Logically speaking, it is contradiction in speech, including that which is related to Daesh, the biggest evil of our age. And this reflects an ambiguous and fragile stand on the part of Qatar.
Discussions on Daesh continue unabated on Al Jazeera and in the Qatari press and social media, especially Twitter. These are all considered to be affiliated with Doha. , These discussions almost extend to supporting the terrorist group. And to think that some of the current operations against Daesh are being carried out from the Al Udeid air base in Qatar!
Doha strives to balance its relationship with America with its support for fundamentalist groups. However, its isolation has become an obstacle in achieving this goal.
Observers have also pointed out that Qatari Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s speech at the UN was dour; so too his interview on CNN. Moreover, the celebration hosted by Qatar in New York was ignored by Arabs, which caused a great deal of embarrassment to everyone.
Doha continued to describe former Egyptian president Mohammad Mursi’s ouster as a “coup”. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama did not receive Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Doha’s strategic ally, and left Vice President Joe Biden to meet him.
This underlines the problematic situation Qatar’s Turkish partner finds itself in. Turkey has also begun to suffer isolation, and it is trying to break from this seclusion by making statements on internal affairs of Arab states (Erdogan’s recent statements about Yemen and the Reform Party are cases in point).
If we go back to steps taken by Doha, we find that the seven Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leaders were deported to Turkey with full support and backing from Qatar. The irony is that the Qatari media did not say the truth regarding this issue nor did the CNN interview. The truth of the matter is that Qatar succumbed to its neighbours’ demands.
Instead of being transparent about an issue as important to the public as this one, the Qataris said that the Egyptians chose to leave their temporary residence in Qatar, so that they can practice their political activities freely.
Nothing more is demanded from Doha than calling a spade a spade; that is the first requirement of any balanced policy and values and principles agreed upon by all.
Within this value system, we can look into the stances adopted by thinkers, politicians, journalists and media persons and others in social media who do not believe in values of righteousness, justice, goodness, etc.
Standing against values of morality and decency, and trying to change anything positive to negative by fundamentalist movements, explains the attitude of that team. This was particularly apparent in the case of Maryam Al Mansouri, the fighter pilot who led UAE’s air raid against Daesh.
Groups slaughtering minorities and other people based on their ethnic and religious identities and selling women as slaves are backed by the same set of tweeters, who are misogynists and also oppose freedom, creativity and art.
Everyone has noted the Gulf media’s silence towards Qatar’s crisis with its neighbours, after the tour of the Saudi delegation headed by Prince Saud Al Faisal.
However, the Qatari media has not ceased its attacks and continues to use inappropriate language that will not assist in creating an atmosphere of reconciliation and allowing the region a breather. So, has Qatar’s crisis with its neighbours ended?
It is certainly not over and, sadly, the GCC as a system is affected by that negatively given Doha’s policies and isolation. Thus, the next GCC summit scheduled to be held in Doha about two months from now, will also suffer an unknown fate, after the cancellation of the consultative summit in Riyadh in the summer.
And it must be noted here that no GCC summit has ever been faced with such uncertainty since the establishment of the Council in the early 1980s, and observers have always pointed to the punctuality of the summit as a positive feature.
These are only a few of the results of Doha’s policies. Everyone hopes that Qatar will return to its natural environment and will adopt policies that are in line with the region’s security and stability.
It has always been said and repeated that the Qatari people are respected and cherished, and the hope lays in the return of Doha safely to its home. This is in the interests of everyone.
It’s clear to observers that Qatari diplomacy must meet many requirements, such as breaking from the policies of the past and emerging from the quandary of the growing accusations of supporting terrorism.
Qatar must reclaim its natural Gulf ties rather than fall into the lap of Turkey. It is also Qatar’s responsibility to do all that is needed to save the scheduled Gulf summit in Doha, as many observers believe strongly that there is a good chance it will not take place.
So, will Qatar be able to achieve all that or only a part of it?
Most observers and analysts see that Qatar will not succeed if it does not give up its rigid position, and adopt a more flexible stance. But this is unattainable as long as Doha persists with its sacred alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood and other fundamentalist groups.
Habib Al Sayegh is the Editor-in-Chief of Al Khaleej newspaper and a prominent UAE commentator and poet. This article was first published in Al Khaleej newspaper.
