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Will the Saudi-Qatar Clash Push Hamas into a Dangerous Corner

(Times of Israel) Avi Issacharoff - Saudi Arabia's loathing for Qatar is well known and longstanding. Despite their geographic proximity, or perhaps because of it, the two countries' enmity is enormous. Qatar's flirting with Iran, Saudi Arabia's greatest nemesis, its closeness to the Muslim Brotherhood, and of course, its founding of the Al-Jazeera satellite news channel in 1996, all turned Qatar into one of the most hated of Arab states among its fellow Sunni Arab regimes, especially in Riyadh and Cairo. Al-Jazeera transformed in the 2000s into a key tool for advancing the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas at the expense of the Egyptian, Saudi and Palestinian governments. This protracted antagonism marks a bid to permanently change Qatar's policies.The Saudi regime's conditions for reconciliation with Doha, presented on Tuesday by Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, are not trivial; they include ending Qatar's support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. Hamas' politicians and top echelon of leaders, remains safely ensconced in Doha and continue to enjoy all the creature comforts the peninsula kingdom has to offer. The same goes for men of faith affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, such as the Egyptian-born cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi.
2017-06-09 00:00:00
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