Five Arab Nations Cut Ties with Qatar over 'Supporting Terrorism'
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Yemen have broken off diplomatic relations with Qatar, claiming the country supports terrorism
IsraelDefense
| 05/06/2017
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (Photo: AP)
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing the Gulf Arab state of supporting terrorism. Hours later, Yemen's state news agency announced that Sana'a also decided to cut diplomatic relations.
The coordinated move dramatically escalates a simmering dispute over Qatar's support of the Muslim Brotherhood, the world's oldest Islamist movement, and adds accusations that Doha even backs the agenda of regional archrival Iran.
The three Gulf States announced the closure of transport ties with Qatar and gave Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave their countries.
Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of backing militant groups and spreading their violent ideology, in an apparent reference to its influential state-owned satellite channel al-Jazeera.
"(Qatar) embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS (Islamic State) and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly," state news agency SPA said.
The statement went on to accuse Qatar of supporting what it described as Iranian-backed militants in its restive and largely Shi'ite Muslim-populated Eastern region of Qatif and in Bahrain.
On its state news agency, Egypt said Qatar's policy "threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation."
In response, Qatar said it regretted the decision and denied the allegations. "The measures are unjustified and are based on claims and allegations that have no basis in fact," Al-Jazeera quoted the foreign ministry as saying. Qatar said the decisions would "not affect the normal lives of citizens and residents."
A senior Iranian official said the decision would not help end the crisis in the Middle East. "The era of cutting diplomatic ties and closing borders ... is not a way to resolve crisis ... As I said before, aggression and occupation will have no result but instability," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted.
A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East, where Gulf States have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Qatar Pressured To Expel Hamas Leaders
Reports emerged in the Arab press on Sunday that Qatar would expel Hamas officials based in its capital, Doha.
According to Al Mayadeen, a channel considered close to Iran and the Syrian regime, Qatar regretted the decision but said “external pressure” had been placed on Qatar to reduce its relationship with Hamas.
This pressure has come from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s Riyadh speech, where he urged the country to “drive out” extremists.
[Source: The Jerusalem Post]
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Yemen have broken off diplomatic relations with Qatar, claiming the country supports terrorism
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing the Gulf Arab state of supporting terrorism. Hours later, Yemen's state news agency announced that Sana'a also decided to cut diplomatic relations.
The coordinated move dramatically escalates a simmering dispute over Qatar's support of the Muslim Brotherhood, the world's oldest Islamist movement, and adds accusations that Doha even backs the agenda of regional archrival Iran.
The three Gulf States announced the closure of transport ties with Qatar and gave Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave their countries.
Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of backing militant groups and spreading their violent ideology, in an apparent reference to its influential state-owned satellite channel al-Jazeera.
"(Qatar) embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS (Islamic State) and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly," state news agency SPA said.
The statement went on to accuse Qatar of supporting what it described as Iranian-backed militants in its restive and largely Shi'ite Muslim-populated Eastern region of Qatif and in Bahrain.
On its state news agency, Egypt said Qatar's policy "threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation."
In response, Qatar said it regretted the decision and denied the allegations. "The measures are unjustified and are based on claims and allegations that have no basis in fact," Al-Jazeera quoted the foreign ministry as saying. Qatar said the decisions would "not affect the normal lives of citizens and residents."
A senior Iranian official said the decision would not help end the crisis in the Middle East. "The era of cutting diplomatic ties and closing borders ... is not a way to resolve crisis ... As I said before, aggression and occupation will have no result but instability," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted.
A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East, where Gulf States have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Qatar Pressured To Expel Hamas Leaders
Reports emerged in the Arab press on Sunday that Qatar would expel Hamas officials based in its capital, Doha.
According to Al Mayadeen, a channel considered close to Iran and the Syrian regime, Qatar regretted the decision but said “external pressure” had been placed on Qatar to reduce its relationship with Hamas.
This pressure has come from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s Riyadh speech, where he urged the country to “drive out” extremists.
[Source: The Jerusalem Post]
