A concerning narrative is gaining traction within certain Israeli circles, aggressively propelled by media outlets and commentators. Framed by articles like Elazar Gabay’s incendiary piece in The Times of Israel (“Qatar: Israel’s next Real enemy after Iran”), this narrative seeks to position the State of Qatar, and specifically its global media network Al Jazeera, as the imminent successor to Iran in Israel’s pantheon of existential adversaries. This characterization is not merely a misreading of geopolitical realities; it is a deliberate and dangerous campaign of propaganda, strategically deployed to undermine Qatar’s soft power, discredit critical journalism, and potentially sabotage crucial channels of mediation in a region perpetually teetering on the brink. To accept this framing is to succumb to a manipulative strategy that serves short-term political expediency at the expense of long-term regional stability and the fundamental principles of a free press.
The timing and substance of this campaign are deeply revealing. It emerges not coincidentally amidst heightened tensions following the tragic events of October 7th and Israel’s devastating military response in Gaza. Qatar, leveraging its unique relationships and diplomatic agility, has played an indispensable, albeit complex, role as a mediator, hosting Hamas political leaders (a reality long tacitly accepted by Israel and its allies as part of maintaining communication channels), facilitating hostage negotiations, and channelling humanitarian aid. This very role, essential for de-escalation and humanitarian relief, now becomes the fodder for demonization. Gabay’s article, and others echoing its sentiment, weaponize Qatar’s mediation by portraying it as evidence of active support for terrorism. This is a classic propaganda tactic: reframing necessary, albeit uncomfortable, diplomatic engagement as complicity. The objective is clear: to pressure Qatar into abandoning its mediation role and isolating it internationally, thereby eliminating a key conduit Israel itself has sometimes relied upon, while simultaneously deflecting scrutiny from Israel’s own military actions and domestic political pressures.
Central to this targeted campaign is Al Jazeera, arguably Qatar’s most potent instrument of soft power and global influence. The network, particularly its Arabic service, provides coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and specifically the Gaza war that is often starkly critical of Israeli government policy and highlights the devastating human cost borne by Palestinian civilians. Its reach across the Arab world and beyond makes it a powerful counter-narrative to Israeli and some Western media perspectives. This critical reporting, however uncomfortable for Israeli authorities, is now cynically conflated with terrorism. Accusations fly that Al Jazeera is a “mouthpiece” for Hamas or actively incites violence. The Israeli government has already taken drastic steps, banning the network’s operations within Israel and actively lobbying allies to do the same. This assault transcends mere disagreement with editorial lines; it is a direct attack on the principle of a free press. Branding independent journalism that documents the consequences of military action as “terrorist propaganda” is a well-worn authoritarian tactic designed to silence dissent and control the narrative. Discrediting Al Jazeera serves the dual purpose of damaging Qatar’s international standing and eliminating a major source of reporting that challenges Israel’s preferred war narrative.
The propagandistic nature of the “Qatar as next enemy” narrative is evident in its selective outrage and logical inconsistencies. Qatar maintains open, albeit complex, relations with the United States, hosting the strategically vital Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. It is a major non-NATO ally and a significant purchaser of American military equipment. While its relationships with groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood draw criticism, its engagement is often rooted in pragmatic regional diplomacy and mediation efforts, frequently coordinated with Western powers. To leap from acknowledging these complex ties to declaring Qatar an “enemy” on par with Iran, a state with a fundamentally adversarial ideology actively seeking regional hegemony and nuclear capability, directly supporting proxies engaged in attacks against Israel and US forces, is a gross distortion devoid of strategic nuance. It ignores Qatar’s vastly different geopolitical goals, its lack of territorial ambitions against Israel, and its consistent role as a US partner. This hyperbole serves only to inflame tensions and manufacture a threat where one of such magnitude does not exist.
The potential consequences of this escalating propaganda war are profoundly negative. Firstly, it risks crippling vital mediation channels. Qatar remains one of the few actors capable of communicating directly with Hamas leadership. Destroying this bridge makes future hostage negotiations, ceasefires, or de-escalation efforts infinitely harder, potentially prolonging conflict and suffering. Secondly, it sets a dangerous precedent for the suppression of press freedom globally. Successfully silencing Al Jazeera under the spurious banner of “terrorism” empowers other regimes to crack down on critical media using similar justifications. Thirdly, it isolates Qatar unnecessarily, potentially destabilizing the delicate balance within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and pushing Doha towards alternative alliances, which could ultimately be detrimental to broader Western and even Israeli long-term interests in regional stability. Finally, it distracts from addressing the core, unresolved issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, allowing hardliners on all sides to exploit manufactured external threats rather than engage in the difficult work of political resolution.
Israel undoubtedly faces complex security challenges. However, designating Qatar as the “next enemy” is a self-defeating strategic error, driven more by domestic political posturing and a desire to control the narrative than by a sober assessment of regional dynamics. It is a campaign fuelled by propaganda tools: the deliberate conflation of mediation with support for terrorism, the weaponization of selective facts, the hyperbolic rhetoric equating a US ally with the Islamic Republic, and the relentless assault on a major international news organization for doing its job. Countering this narrative requires recognizing it for what it is: a dangerous fiction that threatens to extinguish vital diplomatic lifelines and further erode the foundations of a free press, ultimately harming prospects for peace and stability for all parties involved.
Recommendations:
- Qatar should proactively underscore its neutrality and the critical humanitarian/strategic value of its mediation role, presenting evidence of coordination with international partners to counter accusations of bias.
- Invest robustly in legal challenges against bans, enhance transparent editorial protocols, and amplify global advocacy (with NGOs & press freedom groups) to protect its journalists and refute “terrorist propaganda” smears with facts and international law.
- Intensify high-level engagement with key Western capitals (US, UK, EU) and regional partners to provide context, counter Israeli narratives directly, and highlight the risks of losing Qatar as a stabilizing mediator and US ally.
- Document and legally challenge defamatory statements and incitement against the state and its institutions through international bodies where applicable, framing attacks as harmful to regional security.
- While protecting sensitive diplomacy, proactively explain the rationale behind Qatar’s diverse regional engagements, emphasizing their goal of conflict prevention and stability, not antagonism.
- Establish a dedicated unit to rapidly identify, analyse, and publicly debunk disinformation campaigns targeting Qatar and Al Jazeera using factual rebuttals and digital forensics.
- Work diligently with Gulf allies to present a united front against external pressure, demonstrating that targeting Qatar undermines collective Gulf security and economic interests.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
