Hot off the Arab press 497587

COUNTING ONCE THE GULF CRISIS ENDS Al Jazeera, Qatar, June 12 Although it will take many more weeks before we truly begin to understand the consequences of the current Gulf crisis, one thing is already certain: the Arab boycott will be a costly endeavor not only for its target, Qatar, but also for its initiator, Saudi Arabia. Qatar might be able to salvage itself. It maintains strong ties with Turkey and a wide host of European countries, and could leverage those relationships to rescue itself from an impending economic crisis. In place of imports and exports to and from nearby Gulf states, Doha will reach out to new allies around the world and establish novel strategic partnerships. Saudi Arabia, however, has already incurred a heavy blow as a result of this boycott: the demise of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Founded over 35 years ago, the GCC served as an intergovernmental political and economic union for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar. It was a true show of solidarity and harmony in the region. Regardless of the different wars that raged throughout the Middle East, the collapse of Arab regimes, and even the onset of the Arab Spring, the GCC remained resilient and united. GCC meetings were invaluable diplomatic back channels used to discuss and implement solutions to the region's most burning problems. Unfortunately, with the launching of this diplomatic assault on Qatar, Riyadh signaled the end of this unity. More importantly, it sent an important message to its neighbors: Align yourselves with our foreign policy or become our target. Much like Iran's hegemonic aspirations in the region, Saudi Arabia exposed its true ambitions: to divide and conquer. In fact, Saudi leaders didn't even bother convening the GCC before announcing the boycott. Instead, they forced their smaller neighbors to comply with their vision and comply with the Saudi plan. While GCC states complied with this effort, many of them are now more vigilant than ever before. With an unreliable American president sitting in the White House and an aspiring regional power at their doorstep, Gulf states are wary of finding themselves one day as Saudi Arabia's next target. Riyadh undoubtedly opened a can of worms that might be too big for it to deal with. – Fares Abu Hilal IT IS THE SETTLEMENTS, STUPID Filasteen, Ramallah, June 17 Supporters of Israel often claim that the problem between the Israelis and the Palestinians isn't about settlements. They point out the fact that animosity between the two sides began way before the West Bank and the Gaza Strip were captured by Israel during the 1967 war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself has repeatedly echoed this mantra. But this is a misleading argument. Last week, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced that settlement construction since the beginning of 2017 has been the highest to ever take place in Israel. Liberman was referring to over 4,000 units built in the West Bank in the past six months alone, or a staggering 20 units a day. In fact, a study commissioned by former prime minister Ehud Olmert, during his time in office, found that roughly 15% of Israel's GDP is spent annually on projects in the West Bank. This incredible figure doesn't even account for the tax benefits and other subsidies provided by their government to those living over the Green Line. In other words, the settlement project has been at the core of the Israeli strategic agenda. It is not merely a coincidence or a result of “natural growth,” as we are often told. Israeli lawmakers have been attempting to mitigate the severity of this problem, by portraying settlement construction as nothing but a benign attempt to serve the basic needs of a growing population. But in reality, the Israeli government has invested more money in the attempt to Judaize the West Bank than in any other single Israeli enterprise, including in the field of agriculture, research and development, education and science. These figures finally reveal Israel's end goal in the conflict, and the picture is bleak. There is no interest in creating two states for two peoples but, rather, an attempt to continuously encroach on whatever little territory is left for the Palestinians, setting irreversible facts on the ground. For this reason, the conflict is first and foremost about the settlements. Anyone who says otherwise is a demagogue selling lies to the public. – Antoine Shalhat QATAR'S RHETORIC PROVES ITS GUILT Al-Okaz, Saudi Arabia, June 18 I have been closely monitoring the political rhetoric used by Qatari politicians and diplomats in response the current crisis in the Gulf. Interestingly enough, one of the most oft-cited words I have encountered is “siege.” Qatari lawmakers have been talking nonstop about the potential “humanitarian cost” of the boycott on their country. In fact, they describe the boycott as a “blockade” that is “illegal” under international law. Unfortunately, these statements serve only to emphasize the magnitude of Qatar's arrogance. Just this week, for example, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir publicly offered to assist Qatari civil society organizations, including through the provision of food and medical supplies to those in need. Qatar turned down the offer, stating that it is not in need of such support at this time. In other words, Qatar is publicly crying out about a humanitarian crisis, while continuously claiming that no such crisis exists. Indeed, many of my colleagues in Doha have reported that all hotels in the city are at full capacity, and that Hamad International Airport has been operating regularly. It is enough to look at social media websites, where a sneering @DohaUnderSiege hashtag has proliferated, depicting the lavish lifestyle of Doha's residents continuing unhindered: the yachts, luxury hotels and extravagant cars. Qatar's inconsistency is the biggest proof of its fabrications. It seeks to establish an alternate reality but, in doing so, exposes its own lies. There is no “siege” or “crisis” in Doha; simply a boycott in response to its belligerent action in the region. – Turki al-Dakhil THE NEW AMERICAN SHERIFF IN TOWN Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, London, June 14 When US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley stepped into office earlier this year, everyone knew that the United States' stance on Israel in the organization would change. Haley came to New York just weeks after the Obama administration refused to veto UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israel's illegal settlement construction in the West Bank. Haley immediately described the action as a “shame” on the American administration. Yet even then, no one quite understood how prejudiced she would be. While her predecessor, Samantha Power, at least attempted to look balanced, Haley turned support for Israel into the top item on her agenda. She has been roaming the world, flying from New York to Geneva, threatening to withdraw American funding for the organization if Israel is ever criticized. In doing so, she reduced the United Nations, a global organization of over 190 states, into a movement dedicated solely to Israel. What about the hundreds of peacekeeping operations run by the UN? What about the UN's progress in promoting women's and children's rights? What about the importance of international institutions and law? The United Nations has condemned Israel numerous times, but such condemnations are only appropriate. Any nation that continuously occupies another one, for over five decades, deserves the attention and condemnation of the international community. Israel is no exception. Its violation of human rights and disregard of international law ought to remain a focus of the UN. Haley's indifference to the UN's immeasurable contribution to world peace – including that of her very own country – is a shame to the United States. She seems to be walking down the hallways of the United Nations headquarters as though she were the new sheriff in town, fining and punishing anyone who doesn't align with her agenda. She is turning the last remaining international body that serves to bring people together into a defunct organization run by American bullying. Her double standards have rendered any valid criticism of Israel into illegal activity that must never be voiced. – Ramzy Baroud

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