Egypt's policy vis-à-vis the Israeli offensive in Gaza drew strong criticism from the "resistance" camp (comprising Iran, Qatar, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas). The media campaign against Egypt and its leadership was spearheaded by the Qatari TV channel Al-Jazeera, which, according to Egypt, was hostile in its coverage of the events, focusing excessive attention on anti-Egypt demonstrations in the Arab world and providing a platform to those who criticized the Egyptian leadership for its refusal to open the Rafah crossing. [1] Qatar further angered Egypt by convening the January 16, 2009 Doha summit, which Egypt and Saudi Arabia opposed, and by attempting to convene a conference on rebuilding Gaza as an alternative to the Egyptian conference slated to take place in Cairo on March 2, 2009.
Columnists in the Egyptian press responded to Qatar's policies and to the anti-Egyptian campaign waged by its mouthpiece Al-Jazeera. In their articles, they accused Qatar of promoting Iran's agenda and of trying to compete with Egypt and undermine its leading role in the region.
Following are excerpts from some of the articles.
Qatar Is "Engaged in the World's Oldest Profession"
Khaled Imam, chief editor of the Egyptian daily Al-Masaa, wrote that Qatar's recent policies proved that neither pursuing any noble goal nor working for the benefit of the Arabs or Palestinians, but only promoting Iran's agenda. As evidence, he listed the following measures taken by Qatar: Qatar convened the Doha summit in response to foreign dictates and without a legal quorum, and then postponed the summit to allow for the participation of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who served as the summit's hidden chairman, and of Hamas political bureau head Khaled Mash'al as a representative of the Palestinians. Subsequently, Qatar tried to sabotage the Kuwait summit, and - along with some other Arab countries - showed great irresponsibility by opposing the efforts for inter-Arab and inter-Palestinian conciliation. Like Iran's other allies, it welcomed Khaled Mashal's attempts to form a Palestinian leadership alternative to the PLO. Along with Syria, Hamas and Hizbullah, Qatar obeyed Iran's orders to reject the tahdiah ("calm") with Israel and the attempts at inter-Palestinian conciliation. Finally, in response to an Iranian dictate, Qatar also called to convene an alternative conference on rebuilding Gaza, with the aim of perpetuating the division in the Arab world.
Imam then continued: "It is no longer possible to keep silent about Qatar's transgressions, now that it has removed its veil of modesty and openly engaged in the world's oldest profession. Since Israel's brutal attack on Gaza, we have spoken of individual collaborators, like [Hizbullah leader] Hassan Nasrallah, Khaled Mash'al and others, [but] Qatar has the honor of being the pioneer - the first country in the world that allowed itself to become the agent of regional forces [i.e. Iran], even at the expense of the large homeland [Egypt] and of the cause of the [Palestinian] people, who have been suffering for over 60 years.
"What Qatar has done, and especially with its latest move [of calling to convene an alternative summit on rebuilding Gaza], shows that it is immersed to the neck in collaboration with Iran. [However,] Qatar will not change the situation [in the Arab world] one whit, and will not [succeed] in becoming a leading [country]. Iran has not [managed] to realize its Persian agenda of achieving hegemony, control, and influence over Egypt and of intimidating [it]. Its alternative summit [on rebuilding Gaza], which corresponds to the ideas of all those extremists in Iran and in the Muslim Brotherhood, is supported only by insignificant marginal [forces] that are collaborating [with Iran], because [this summit actually] runs counter to the Palestinian interests." [2]
Qatar Is Trying to Compete with Egypt and Push It Aside
Egyptian MP Muhammad 'Ali Ibrahim, editor of the government daily Al-Gumhouriyya, wrote: "Qatar thinks that its wealth allows it to do anything [it wants]. Its investments in Syria enabled it to pressure Damascus to conciliate with Lebanon... The aid it gives to Sudan, Comoro Islands and Djibouti were [the factor] which persuaded [these countries] to attend the [January 2009] Doha summit. Now, it is thinking of paying ransom or of 'bribing' Hamas to liberate the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, in order to curry favor with Israel... and [also] to win some brownie points with France, since Shalit has French citizenship in addition [to Israeli]... Furthermore, Qatar [wants to] become the [main] source of funds for the resistance movements in the Arab world, especially Hizbullah and Hamas, since both these [movements] will soon face some financial difficulties as a result of the financial crisis in Tehran...
"According to Qatar's worldview, any problem can be solved by means of money - but [the truth is that] there are some things that money can't buy... [Moreover,] not everything that can be bought can also be used. Some things you buy may end up exploding in your face. These metaphors mean to hint at something [very] simple - namely, at Qatar's attempts to convene an alternative international summit on the rebuilding of Gaza, to compete with the one slated to take place in Cairo this March.
"Qatar is striving for an achievement that will allow it to compete with Egypt and push it aside... [But] has Qatar, with all its money, managed to make a dent in Egypt's role, weight or status?! I don't think so. Money can buy almost anything, but it cannot buy position, history or culture...
"Egypt is working for the Palestinians [as a whole], not for Fatah or Hamas, and that is why the entire world trusts it and consults with it. Qatar, [on the other hand,] wants a summit that will support Hamas and defend Iran's position - [that is, the position] that if the resistance has brought destruction upon Gaza, Iran will be the one to rebuild it, with the help of international moves sponsored by Qatar..." [3]
"[Qatar's] Prime Minister is the Biggest Liar History Has Ever Known"
In another Al-Gumhouriyya article, Muhammad 'Ali Ibrahim wrote: "Unfortunately, Qatar has managed to imbue the public consciousness in the Arab region with the notion that everyone who calls for peace is a coward, while [the Qataris] alone are heroes - along with Syria and Iran, naturally. They believe that their courage lies in taking the side of the enraged public. That is all very well, but what will follow [these expressions] of rage - [more] condemnations or [actual] war?...
"Qatar does not possess one single characteristic of a fighting country - but it has money, which it lavishes generously upon resistance groups such as Hamas and Hizbullah. This notion of subsidizing [the resistance] makes Qatar a bank rather than a state, and banks do not play political roles, though Doha wanted to assume one…
"[Qatar] acts as if it were a superpower, as long as it is [able to] pursue the diplomacy of checks and of suitcases filled with cash. But countries do not establish their positions based on their money. Qatar's army [consists of] Pakistanis and Bengalis; the Americans are protecting it; its Emir carried out a coup against his father on Washington's orders; and its prime minister is the biggest liar that history has ever known. It is inconceivable that Qatar would compete with Egypt…" [4]
The Qatari Satellite Channel Al-Jazeera Is Waging a Media War Against the Arab Nation
The Egyptian daily Al-Ahram published an open letter by columnist Tareq Hassan to Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Aal Thani. The letter urges the Emir to end Al-Jazeera's hostile campaign against Egypt and to resist Iran's imperialist aspirations:
"We [all] know very well that the Al-Jazeera employees... are [merely] civil servants, and do not have the right or the authority to determine the station's policy or approach. [Therefore], it is not they who are responsible for this tendency to systematically attack Egypt on every matter, great or small. [In fact], we are completely convinced that most of them are opposed to this position vis-à-vis Egypt...
"The stance taken by Al-Jazeera, and especially its destructive tendencies, which are jeopardizing pan-Arab ties and [undermining] all unified [Arab] positions, have [negative] repercussions for Qatar's relations with [the other] Arab countries. [This, since] Al-Jazeera [operates] under the supervision of the [Qatari] authorities… [The station's positions therefore] raise questions regarding the sincerity of the positions [declared by] Qatar - which agrees to serve as a launching pad for the bombs and missiles of this psychological and ideological media attack on the entire Arab nation…
"[You, the Qatari Emir, are surely aware of Iran's intentions] regarding the Gulf states… and of its attempts to drive a wedge between the Arab Egypt and its sister-states in the Arabian Gulf. And who if not Egypt will stand by the Gulf states, including Qatar, when Iran or some other hostile force attempts to harm them? [Surely,] you are not unaware of Iran's actions in Iraq - by means of its death militias and its collaboration with the [U.S.] occupation, aimed at destroying a large and noble Arab state - [and of its actions in] Lebanon and Gaza.
"Our statements are not motivated by any sectarian-based anti-Iran [bias]. Perish the thought. For Egypt as a whole has never known anything but pluralism and coexistence - religious, ideological, and cultural. It is Iran that has imposed its agenda, aspirations and dreams upon us. Contrary to its claims, [its agenda] is imperialist rather than religious, and the Arabian Gulf is, and has always been, the first goal of its expansion project.
"How is it that you, the honorable Qatari Emir, a noble Arab who upholds [the banner of] pan-Arabism, are letting Egypt be attacked and its role [in the Arab world] be questioned in such a public and despicable manner... by a satellite channel located in your own Arab country?" [5]
Endnotes:
[1] Al-Ahram (Egypt), December 31, 2008.
[2] Al-Masaa (Egypt), February 8, 2009.
[3] Al-Gumhouriyya (Egypt), February 11, 2009.
[4] Al-Gumhouriyya (Egypt), February 12, 2009.
[5] Al-Ahram (Egypt), January 13, 2009.
