4 June 11, 2017 Cover Story crisis

For , isolating Qatar has political, security advantages

Amr Emam Brotherhood followers dominated coverage by the Qatari news chan- nel and its Egyptian Cairo channel, Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr. Al Jazeera’s coverage misrepre- weakened and iso- sented conditions in Egypt, which lated Qatar will have affected negatively Cairo’s ability far-reaching effects on to attract investment and foreign politics and security tourists, economists said. in Egypt, as well as the Cairo accused of funding problemsA Cairo faces beyond its terrorist operations by groups af- borders, experts said. filiated with the Muslim Brother- “Qatar has been waging an all- hood. Egyptian authorities said out media war against the Egyptian one of those groups assassinated state for several years, all with the Egyptian Prosecutor-General Hish- aim of undermining this state,” am Barakat in a car bombing in said Tarek Fahmy, a political sci- June 2015. ence professor at Cairo University. Egypt called for a UN Security “The isolation of Qatar will render Council investigation into a ran- it incapable of maintaining this som of up to $1 billion allegedly war, even if only in the long run.” paid by Doha to a “terrorist group Egypt followed , active in ” to secure the release and the United Arab Emir- of kidnapped members of the Qa- ates in cutting ties with Qatar on tari royal family. June 5 following accusations that “This violation of the Security Deep distrust. A 2015 file picture shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C-R) walking Doha has been supporting terror- Council resolutions, if proved cor- alongside Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (C-L) upon the latter’s arrival at the Sharm ism, including the banned Muslim rect, shall definitely have a negative el-Sheikh Red Sea resort ahead of the Arab League summit. (Egyptian presidency) Brotherhood. bearing on counterterrorism efforts on the ground,” senior Egyptian “Investors do not put their Cairo, which designated the ya, which is aligned with Haftar, UN diplomat Ihab Moustafa Awad money in a country that the me- as a terrorist also cut diplomatic ties with Qatar. Qatar has been told the Security Council. Security dia keeps portraying as unstable. group in 2013, ordered air strikes Libyan National Army spokesman waging an all-out Council Resolution 2199 explicitly Tourists cannot visit this country, targeting terrorist training camps in Colonel Ahmed al-Mesmari ac- media war against bans the payment of ransom to ter- either.” . The move, which represent- cused Qatar of sending arms and rorist groups “regardless of how or Since Morsi’s overthrow, Egypt ed a major expansion in Egypt’s ammunition to Islamist militias in the Egyptian state by whom the ransom is paid.” attracted little new foreign invest- war on terror, was in response to an the country. for several years Egyptian President Abdel Fat- ment, negatively affecting the Islamic State (ISIS) attack in which “This means that tightening the now. tah al-Sisi spoke with US President economy and creating a shortage 30 Coptic Christian pilgrims were noose around Qatar and forcing it on June 9 to dis- of foreign currency reserves that killed May 26 in the central Minya to suspend funding and support Cairo University” Professor cuss the Qatar crisis. Both leaders led to last year’s currency flotation. region. to terrorists will leave the Libya Tarek Fahmy emphasised the importance of all Egypt attracted $6 billion in for- militias high and dry,” said Hes- countries implementing agree- eign investment in 2016 but most The measures taken ham Halabi, a retired Egyptian gen- Qatar, which backed Muslim ments to fight terrorism and com- of that capital was from companies against Doha will eral and adviser at Nasser Military Brotherhood President Muham- bat terrorism financing, a White already present in Egypt working limit Qatar’s ability Academy. mad Morsi in Egypt before he was House statement said. on new projects and expansions. to fund Islamist “Apart from significantly contrib- toppled in 2013, began a media war Egypt’s decision to cut diplo- Cairo said it expects to attract $10 militias jockeying for uting to Libya’s stabilisation and vilifying post-Morsi authorities in matic ties with Qatar was widely billion in investment this year, control in Libya. the ability of the national army to Egypt. Pro-Brotherhood media — praised by the Egyptian media. compared to $11.4 billion in 2009. bring order back to the country, this mainly funded by Qatar — exagger- “You cannot imagine the effect of For Egypt, the measures taken will contribute to preventing arms ated the importance of the - negative media on a country’s im- against Doha will limit Qatar’s abil- Egyptian authorities have said smuggling into Egypt and conse- ist movement on Egypt’s political age and its ability to attract invest- ity to fund Islamist militias jock- that weapons and ammunition that quently weakening the ISIS terror- scene and the popular following ments or convince foreign tourists eying for control in Libya, where end up in the hands of ISIS fighting ists spilling Egyptians’ blood.” the Brotherhood had. that it is safe enough for them to Egypt is backing the anti-Islamist the army in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula For almost two years after Mor- visit it,” said Egyptian economist forces of Libyan strongman Field are smuggled in from Libya. Amr Emam is a Cairo-based si’s overthrow, demonstrations by Wael al-Nahas. Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The government of eastern Lib- contributor to The Arab Weekly. Syrian opposition wary of Qatar crisis fallouts

Viewpoint ince the outbreak of the who has been residing in the tiny Mustapha al-Sabbagh, the former the blockade continues, Qatar will Qatari-Saudi feud in emirate since 1961. He has been secretary-general of the Syrian Qatar put lose no less than 80% of its Gulf mid-May, the Syrian vocally supportive of the National National Coalition, who is also on imports but Tehran has offered to opposition has been Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary excellent terms with the Saudis. forth an cover the loss and provide food remarkably silent, and Opposition Forces, a Doha- In 2013, the former estimated and whatever else Qatar may need refusing to take sides created political entity set up Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al- $3 billion in the upcoming period. The two Sbetween two of their staunchest by the current emir’s father in Thani handed the Syrian Embassy countries have always had a warm to bankroll allies. This applies to civilian November 2012. premises in Doha to the Syrian relationship, despite differences politicians and military com- Saudi Arabia is also expecting coalition and gave it ’s seat the on Syria since 2011. manders of the armed groups Qatar to sever ties with the during the Arab League summit in opposition Shortly after the current crisis Sami who have been recipients of Brotherhood’s Palestinian branch, March in Qatar. in its early erupted, Sheikh Tamim called Moubayed Saudi and Qatari funds for more Hamas, and to permanently With the notable exception of Iranian President Hassan Rohani, than six years. terminate the popular Al Jazeera the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, stages. congratulating him on his re- Qatar put forth an estimated $3 television network, which has whose top leadership will stand election, indicating again that he billion to bankroll the opposition been a powerful mouthpiece for by Qatar until the curtain falls, was unwilling to kneel to Saudi in its early stages while there is no the Syrian opposition. If closed, other figures are likely to slowly dictates. figure for the Saudis, who severed it would leave one popular distance themselves and quietly The closer he draws to Iran the relations with Damascus in August television platform, the Saudi- shift into the Saudi orbit. This more difficult it will make life for 2011 and formally adopted the owned Al Arabiya TV. Unless they is where the rest of the Gulf Qatari-based Syrian activists — Syrian opposition in the spring of take sides early on, many Syrians Cooperation Council stands, after who would further damage their 2013. would be denied access to the all, and where cash flow and arms credibility at home if they are Most Syrian politicians are studios of Al Arabiya. will likely continue. perceived as even remotely close anxiously waiting to see how So far, however, no pressure has That, of course, is only if or uncritical of Iran. If relations get this crisis unfolds and whether been applied on Syrian dissidents Qatar itself does not throw itself warmer with Tehran, and possibly Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin to take sides with either Saudi completely into the lap of Iran Damascus as well, they also run Hamad al-Thani will surrender to Arabia or Qatar. That could change — the one regional heavyweight the high risk of being expelled. Saudi dictates, a move that would soon, spreading fear in opposition milking this crisis to death. In the complex world of Arab effectively strip his country of all circles. Qatar has shown no readiness to politics, anything can happen. its political tools and influence. For example, Riad Hijab, the climb down, with Sheikh Tamim Another possible outcome of the Among other things, this would defected former prime minister recently receiving Qaradawi after Gulf feud is if Doha and Riyadh mean distancing itself from Iran who now heads the Saudi-backed iftar and refusing to attend a decide to settle old scores on the and expelling from Doha the High Negotiations Committee reconciliation meeting with Saudi Syrian battlefield, away from the Muslim Brotherhood, including its (HNC), lives in Doha but conducts Arabia proposed in Washington by Arabian Gulf. This could be fatal 90-year-old chief ideologue Yusuf all his meetings in Riyadh. This US President Donald Trump. for the Syrian opposition if money al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian cleric will become technically difficult The Qataris are saying that and arms start pouring into Syria as all flights to and from Qatar they can weather the blockade not to fight government troops have been terminated by Saudi imposed on their land and sea but, rather, to tear their proxies to Since the outbreak of the Arabia and all land and sea borders by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain pieces at the gates of Damascus. Qatari-Saudi feud in mid-May, borders have been closed. and the , Another prominent Syrian leaving them with one access Sami Moubayed is a Syrian the Syrian opposition has been figure who resides in Doha and route — Iran. historian and author of “Under the remarkably silent. has been remarkably silent is Saudi media estimated that, if Black Flag” (IB Tauris, 2015).