Two days after the US State Department formally inquired about WTF is going on between Arab States and Qatar, the countries of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Baahrain, and the UAE sent a list of 13 demands to the tiny Gulf nation to be met within 10 days in order to lift their total blockade of the country. Among them – reducing diplomatic ties with Iran, shutting down broadcaster Al Jazeera (and affiliates), and immediately cease working to open a Turkish military base announced in May of 2016. Also interesting is the demand that Qatar give up their intel on terrorist groups they have supported and “provide all databases related to oppositionists…” (Scroll down for full list of demands)
This formal list comes on the heels of a June 6th rumor that Arab States issued a list of 10 demands to be fulfilled within 24 hours, however Qatar said they never received them according to Al Jazeera journalists who are now dusting off their resumes.
Embargo
On June 5th, news broke that Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt had cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar over accusations of ‘spreading chaos’ by ‘funding terrorism and supporting Iran’ – shutting down all land, sea, and air crossings with the tiny energy-rich nation that has the highest per capita income in the world. Qatari visitors and residents were given two weeks to leave – while diplomats had just 48 hours.
While Qatar has been friendly with Iran for years, the prelude to the embargo began after a broadcast which showed Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speaking with no audio – and scrolling text at the bottom of the screen which stated his support for Iran and terrorist groups. Qatar claims the broadcast was ‘hacked.’
After the broadcast, Saudi Arabia and the UAE blocked Qatari news organization Al-Jazeera.
Amid Qatar’s denials, Saudi-owned satellite television networks immediately began airing repeated stories about the disputed comments. By early Wednesday morning, those living in the UAE and subscribers to local cable providers couldn’t access the channels of Al-Jazeera, the pan-Arab satellite broadcaster based in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Attempts to reach its websites brought up a warning from the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority saying the site “contains content that is prohibited.”
In Saudi Arabia, internet users also found Al-Jazeera websites blocked with a warning from the kingdom’s Culture and Information Ministry.
–WaPo
Full List of demands (translated by @hxhassan)
1. Qatar must reduce diplomatic representation with Iran
2. Qatar must immoderately shut down the Turkish military base that is being established
3. Qatar must announce severance of ties with terrorist, ideological & sectarian orgs: MB, ISIS, AQ, HTS, Hizbollah
4. Qatar must cease any funding activities to extremist and terrorist individuals
5. Qatar must hand over all designated terrorists
6. Qatar must shut down Al Jazeera and all affiliated channels
7. Qatar must stop interference in these countries’ domestic andforeign affairs; stop naturalisation of their citizens; extradite such citizens
8. Qatar must provide reparations to these countries for any opportunity costs incurred over the past few years because of Qatari policies.
9. Qatar must become in sync with its Gulf and Arab neighbourhood on all levels, and to activate Riyadh Agreement 2013/2014
10. Qatar must provide all databases related to oppositionists that it provided support to & clarify what help was provided.
11. Qatar must all media outlets backed by it directly or indirectly, like Arabi21, Rasd, New Arab, Middle East Eye, Mkamlin, Sharq etc
12. These demands must be agreed within 10 days, otherwise they would be invalidated.
13. Agreement will involve clear goals and mechanism, monthly reports in the first year, every three months the next & annually for 10 years
If you enjoy the content at iBankCoin, please follow us on Twitter
Qatar has been at odds with its neighbors of the Gulf region since the son overthrew the father by coup during the 1990s.
There are stories that the then representatives of Qatar had open arguments with other Gulf leaders during GCC meetings. Some interesting gossip but no confirmation.
Al Jazeera (the island or peninsula in English) has been a thorn in the side of many Gulf nations for at least 20 years. It was banned from the airwaves by several countries there since the late 1990s because the Arabic news service was considered subversive – and completely different in content from the English service.
There is a new generation ruling the region from Jordan across north Africa to the Gulf – only Sultan Qaboos of Oman and Sheikh Rashid of Dubai remain from the older generation. The older leaders were raised up from nothing to acquire essentially infinite wealth. The newer generation of leaders have never experienced anything other than infinite wealth.
It looks like Qatar’s neighbors have finally had enough. I believe that they are trying to force a change of regime there as Qatar simply cannot survive without the cooperation of its neighboring countries. The Qatari Royal Family is very close to the Saudi Royal family. Look for a new leader of Qatar to emerge with much closer ties to Saudi Arabia.
These is all about Qatar being opportunistic and switching alliances – away from Saudi/Israel,.. to Iran/Russia/Syria side.
And if their demands are not met then what? WTF are the Saudis going to do? Throw a shoe at them or unleash their mighty armada of flying rugs on Doha?
As far as I am concerned, if sand monkeys and the chosen ones can obliterate themselves into extinction, the world would be a better place. We just need to stay out of it.
Exactly. Absolutely spot dead nuts on.