The Return of the “Prodigal” Son: With a track record of treachery, can Qatar still be trusted?


Saudi Arabia and its regional allies look set to end a few years-long blockade of Qatar and re-open its borders in what looks like a breakthrough agreement, due to be signed later on Tuesday, but the million-dollar-question on the lips of many is  —  “Can Qatar be trusted?”

How it started…..
On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, closing borders and airspace, and imposing an economic blockade that still remains in place.
Saudi Arabia said at the time that the decision was based on “Qatar’s embrace of various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilizing the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda, Daesh and groups supported by Iran,” as reported in Arab News.
The four states, and others that soon joined the boycott, had spent years trying to persuade Doha to stop supporting terrorist groups and interfering in the internal affairs of other countries in the region, including its GCC allies.
Qatar’s alignment with Iran, a destabilizing and threatening influence in the region, was of special concern to states wary of Tehran’s ambitions in the Gulf.

Qatar: Nothing but a beguiler
For several months ,Qatar has been trying to strike a reconciliation deal with other Gulf states while still funding terrorism.
Qatar has been playing the victim as it lobbies the US and the European Union to pressure the boycotting countries to re-establish diplomatic relations and lift the embargo, yet Qatar has actively tried to undermine the boycotting countries, and unless Qatar drastically changes its behavior by ceasing support for extremist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, the boycott should remain in place.
One of the principle complaints the boycott had of Qatar was its malicious use of Al Jazeera, which has served as the mouthpiece for global terrorism, extremism and anti-semitism.
Needless to say, the curious case of Qatar’s involvement with Turkey. Qatar and Turkey enjoy a quid pro quo (which sees Qatar provide Turkey with billions of dollars and in exchange Turkey train and send mercenaries to stoke the fire in the civil war going on in Yemen, Somalia and Libya).
A truce with Qatar is like a double-edged sword; auspicious and healthy at face-value, but a can of worms beneath the surface.

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