Qatar has no dispute with Israel except over Palestine

Doha – Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani responds to the ongoing activities of the US for cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, saying, ‘At the end of the day, we don’t have a war with Israel; the Israelis have an occupation over the Palestinians. So, any agreement with the Israelis doesn’t represent peace; the peace (could be) represented only between them and the Palestinians.’

Speaking at an event organised by a think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), in Singapore, the Qatari PM welcomed Saudi Arabia’s initiative to improve relations with the Gulf countries. Over the past few months, the Saudi leadership has put behind a few years of disputes with Qatar and Iran and established cooperation. Among these, the Qatari Prime Minister acknowledged that the commencement of Saudi cooperation with Iran draws much attention.

Moreover, the Qatari Prime Minister claimed that the Iran-Saudi cooperation brokered by China would lead to instability in the Gulf. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Al Thani noted that the United States has initiated necessary activities to establish cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia. He also admitted that if Saudi Arabia established cooperation with Israel, the equations in the Gulf would change.

However, the Arab countries continue to have old disputes with Israel on the issue of Palestine. Saudi Arabia and the Arab League have also said that Israel must decide on the issue of Palestinian independence. Thus, resolving this issue can only establish peace between Israel and Palestine. Saying there can be no peace in cooperation with Israel unless this is possible, Al Thani seems to give a message to Saudi and Israel.