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How Should Israel Deal with Qatar?

(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Yoel Guzansky - Despite Qatar's support for Hamas, intelligence agencies from both sides cooperate, senior officials hold meetings, Israelis visit the emirate, and limited economic and commercial cooperation exists. Furthermore, Qatar is not officially designated as an enemy state by Israel, although it has issued warnings advising Israeli citizens against traveling there. While Qatar strongly criticizes Israeli policies on the Palestinian issue, it serves as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas and actively participates in the humanitarian aid mechanism for Gaza. Israel's stated objective of removing Hamas from power in Gaza is fundamentally at odds with Qatar's interest in keeping Hamas as the governing force. Qatar leverages its support for the Palestinians - and Hamas in particular - to strengthen its standing both in the Arab world and beyond. However, rather than being driven purely by ideological affinity, Qatar's foreign policy is characterized more often by pragmatism - and at times opportunism - than by deep ideological commitment. A prime example of this is Qatar's strong support for Egypt during the presidency of Mohamed Morsi - a member of the Muslim Brotherhood - followed by its current close ties with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's regime, which actively opposes and suppresses the Brotherhood. Qatar has positioned itself as a key American partner in the Middle East. With a native population of only 300,000 citizens, Qatar is the second-largest buyer of U.S. weapons globally, and the host of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) at the Al Udeid Air Base - the largest U.S. military base outside the U.S. Qatar is investing $8 billion to upgrade Al Udeid, which houses an American X-band radar system critical for detecting and tracking Iranian missile launches. In January 2022, President Biden designated Qatar a "major non-NATO ally," a status granting privileged access to U.S. military cooperation and advanced technology. In September 2024, the Biden administration granted Qatari citizens visa-free entry to the U.S. - the only Arab country to receive such a privilege. Israel should identify specific areas where Qatar's actions undermine Israeli security and coordinate fully with Washington to ensure that its actions align with broader U.S. policy objectives. The writer, who formerly coordinated Iran and Gulf affairs at Israel's National Security Council, is a senior researcher at INSS.
2025-03-27 00:00:00
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