clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Trump’s visit affected crisis with Qatar, claims Israeli diplomat

June 6, 2017 at 12:57 pm

US President Donald Trump arrives in Tel Aviv, Israel on 22 May 2017 [Daniel Bar On/Anadolu Agency]

A senior Israeli diplomat and former head of Israel’s mission in Doha revealed on Monday that the new US foreign policy of Donald Trump led to four Arab states severing ties with Qatar this week, Jordan’s Al-Sabeel newspaper has reported. “The severing of ties was a real translation of Trump’s views,” said Eli Avidar, “as he wants to get rid of all the heritage of his predecessor Barack Obama.”

Speaking to Israel’s Reshet Bet radio, Avidar added that, “Trump wanted to put an end to this situation, where Qatar is a member of the moderate Arab states and at the same time it is has good relations with Turkey and is an ally of the Muslim Brotherhood.” He criticised Qatar and described the move by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain as “dramatic”.

Read: The Trump effect, more dangerous than the man himself

The division in the Arab world, he claimed, reflects “the deep common interests between these countries and Israel.” This view was echoed by a commentator on Arab affairs for Israel’s military radio. The countries involved, said Jackie Hokei, clearly regard “Qatar as the enemy, and not Israel.”