The closing of the Israeli trade mission here in Qatar was a gesture -- meant to placate the masses who were so disturbed by what was happening in Gaza, as well as to assuage Iran, a long-time backer of Hamas (as well as Hezbollah) and the most vocal and vociferous opponent of Israel.
If you noticed, neither KSA nor Egypt attended the emergency summit here last weekend to discuss the situ in Gaza. But Syria was here, and Iran too -- and they didn't send some low-level minister, they sent their presidents!! How's that for sending a message about how seriously they viewed the situation?
In the end, it's all politics. The day after the emergency summit, Israel announced a unilateral cease-fire. Twelve hours later Hamas followed suit. Kind of too little, too late....
Qatar bought itself some wasta with Iran by kicking out the Israelis, and it gained a whole bunch of PR points with the general Arab public. But at the end of the day, not much has changed.
The closing of the Israeli trade mission here in Qatar was a gesture -- meant to placate the masses who were so disturbed by what was happening in Gaza, as well as to assuage Iran, a long-time backer of Hamas (as well as Hezbollah) and the most vocal and vociferous opponent of Israel.
If you noticed, neither KSA nor Egypt attended the emergency summit here last weekend to discuss the situ in Gaza. But Syria was here, and Iran too -- and they didn't send some low-level minister, they sent their presidents!! How's that for sending a message about how seriously they viewed the situation?
In the end, it's all politics. The day after the emergency summit, Israel announced a unilateral cease-fire. Twelve hours later Hamas followed suit. Kind of too little, too late....
Qatar bought itself some wasta with Iran by kicking out the Israelis, and it gained a whole bunch of PR points with the general Arab public. But at the end of the day, not much has changed.