Prince of Qatar Underestimates Doha’s Need for Neighbors

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is seen as he speaks to members of Qatar's Shura Council in Doha, Qatar, November 14, 2017. Reuters
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is seen as he speaks to members of Qatar's Shura Council in Doha, Qatar, November 14, 2017. Reuters
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Prince of Qatar Underestimates Doha’s Need for Neighbors

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is seen as he speaks to members of Qatar's Shura Council in Doha, Qatar, November 14, 2017. Reuters
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is seen as he speaks to members of Qatar's Shura Council in Doha, Qatar, November 14, 2017. Reuters

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced Tuesday that his country no longer needs its neighbors, underestimating the importance of the boycott by the Arab quartet.

The Emir defended in the opening of the 46th ordinary session of the Shura Council his country, which is accused of supporting terrorism.

“Qatar's record on fighting terrorism is documented and known to everyone," he said, adding that Qatar has joined international and regional treaties in this regard, mainly the ‘UN International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism’ in 1999, and has contributed to every international and regional effort in this regard.

“We express our readiness for a compromise within the framework of a dialogue based on mutual respect for sovereignty and common obligations, but on the other hand we recognize that the indicators that come from the blockade states show they do not want to reach a solution,” Tamim added.

Sheikh Tamim also praised efforts made by Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, in the Gulf mediation and his keenness on the future of the GCC States.

He said that his country has taken necessary measures to face the challenges imposed by the recent developments, especially in the fields of transportation, commodities and services.



Qatar Rejects ‘Provocative’ Statements Issued by Netanyahu's Office

Majed al-Ansari, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson. (Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Majed al-Ansari, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson. (Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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Qatar Rejects ‘Provocative’ Statements Issued by Netanyahu's Office

Majed al-Ansari, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson. (Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Majed al-Ansari, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson. (Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Qatar strongly rejected on Saturday what it described as “provocative” Israeli statements made by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Majed al-Ansari, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the “Israeli statements fall short of the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility”.
He added: "Picturing the ongoing aggression in Gaza as a defense of civilization brings back rhetorics used by regimes throughout history to justify their crimes under false pretenses”.
Earlier, Netanyahu’s office called on Qatar, a key mediator between Israel and the Hamas group in Gaza, to "stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it's on the side of civilization or if it's on the side of Hamas".