Why is Netanyahu unstoppable?

The Israeli  decision to target Hamas leaders in Qatar rather than in Turkey or Egypt has raised eyebrows. But this was no impulsive act; rather, it was the latest meticulously orchestrated gambit and a long-term strategy that has cemented Netanyahu’s position as one of the region’s enduring political leaders.

Neither the emergency Arab-Islamic summit, which was held after the Qatar strike, nor the unleashed anger response that was expressed by Arab-Muslim leaders one day ago has addressed why Netanyahu’s aggression has proceeded unabated?

There is no clear-cut simple answer; rather, the issue lies in a web of complex strategic alliances and diplomatic tricks that enable Netanyahu to outmaneuver opponents and keep a grip on power.

In 2011, Hamas was invited to establish a presence in Qatar at the request of the United States, with implicit approval from Israel, to allow Hamas leadership a base for communication with the group. On the surface this appeared to be a pragmatic decision: providing Hamas leadership with a base of communications. Could help to de-escalate tensions.

But lurking beneath the veneer of diplomacy lay a more controversial story—one involving Azmi Bishara, a former Israeli legislator who fled to Qatar in 2007 due to allegations of espionage for Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah, which was four years prior to the invitation extended to Hamas leaders to live in Qatar.

Bishara, a polarizing figure in Israeli politics, has been accused of consistently changing political alliances to serve his interests. Bishra Critics has accused him of supporting terrorism in conjunction with his host, Qatar, where he acted as a key intermediary central player in the region’s geopolitical chessboard.

Qatar’s decision to host Bishara came at a cost in 2017.Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt severed relations with Qatar, alleging the nation has connections to Islamist extremists and is hanging too closely with Shiite Iran.

Yet Qatar persisted in its strategy, aiming to surpass Egypt as a primary mediator between Israel and Hamas. This ambition turned Qatar into a hub of Arab diplomacy, and Bishara became a prized asset in navigating the murky water of Israeli politics.

Dubai police chief Dhahi Khalfan has accused Azmi Bishara of being an Israeli spy sent to destabilize the Gulf regions. and the catalyst behind the recent deterioration of Qatar’s relations with its neighbors.

The depth of Qatar’s influence in Israeli politics became particularly apparent during the 2022 Israeli elections.According to reports from Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu’s Likud party figures such as Yariv Levin and Yoav Kisch cooperated with the Balad party and its leader Sami Abu Shehadeh to bring down the Bennett-Lapid government and vote to dissolve the Knesset and pave the way for Netanyahu to return to power.

Balad later withdrew from the joint list, which was coordinated by Azmi Bishara, the founder of Balad, from his residence in Qatar. Influenced by Qatari diplomatic resources and Dr. Bishara, his role in his maneuver has drawn comparisons to a modern-day Richelieu in the realm of realpolitik to shift the balance of power.

The Qatari wealth and lobbying  in Israeli politics reached new heights in the QatarGate affair. A scandal implicated key figures in Netanyahu’s inner circle. Among them were Yisrael Einhorn, a former campaign advisor to Netanyahu, and Jonathan Urich, who spearheaded a pro-Qatari public relations campaign to cast the Gulf states in a positive light ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In summary, Qatar perceives its relationship with Israel not as adversarial but rather as a strategic asset to uphold its diplomatic hosting prominence in the Middle East.

Later the nuanced dynamic came to the fore. When Netanyahu found himself embroiled in allegations surrounding Qatar’s involvement, Netanyahu demonstrated his inner Houdini skills and managed to escape the accusations by asserting that Qatar had bribed the Israeli security agency, all while bringing agency chief Ronen Bar to the 2022 World Cup in Doha.

However, Qatar has not declared any contradictory statements against Netanyahu’s allegation. Rather, only the Israeli public broadcaster Kan later reported that the Shin Bet responded to Netanyahu’s allegations, stating that both Bar and Mossad Chief Ronen Barnea had traveled to Qatar during the World Cup for a “professional trip” accompanied by security personnel and with Netanyahu’s approval.

Clearly Netanyahu’s reliance on Qatar extends beyond domestic politics; he had turned to Doha for help to return to power as a partner and returned the favor with gratitude by dispatching his aides in the Qatar-Gate to promote Qatar’s global image before the 2022 World Cup, along with the anonymous soldier Azmi Bishara.

Netanyahu has chosen Qatar to eliminate Hamas leaders, not any other country, because he is confident that the influence that brought him back to power in Israel will not hinder collaboration. This is crucial for Netanyahu, as he needs to show his ultra-orthodox coalition that he has successfully completed a significant mission by targeting Hamas leaders.

The recent Israeli strike in Doha had sparked a powerful response from Arab-Muslim leaders at the summit held in Doha in September 15 . They rallied in anger against what they described as an Israeli  cowardly attack. The rhetoric has been sharpened and unsparing. King Abdullah II declaring that “Israel’s threat has crossed all limits,” President Sisi stating that Israel has crossed “all red lines,” and Iraqi President Shi’a Al Sudani suggesting an Arab Islamic NATO-style defense pact.

Yet beneath the fiery declarations lies a more complex reality. The summit’s united front overlooks the covert and often subversive ties that many Arab nations maintain with Israel—a web of relationships that complicates any straightforward narrative of opposition. This disconnect between public posturing and private pragmatism lies at the heart of the region’s enduring challenges.

As Qatar and Israel navigate their uneasy alliance, and as Arab leaders grapple with their competing interests, the Middle East remains a theater of contradictions—where overt enmity often masks covert collaboration, and where the lines between friend and foe are seldom clear.

#Qatar# israel# Hamas#

By :Sonny Said Batrouni