(July 9, 2024, Washington, DC) – EMET welcomes the announcement today by Senate Armed ServicesCommittee Chair, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker(R-MS), on the filing of S. 4638 – The National Defense Authorization Act forFiscal Year 2025.
This legislation, while including all the necessaryprovisions crucial to maintaining defense cooperation between the United Statesand Israel, includes a new section relating to the relationship between theUnited States and Qatar, a state-enabler of Hamas. Under Sec. 1287 in the bill,the Secretary of Defense will be required to “report and brief on theoperational value of the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, taking into considerationthe relationship of the Government of Qatar with Hamas and other terrorist organizations.”Among other things, the secretary will need to assess “whether the relationshipof the Government of Qatar with United States-designated terroristorganizations undermines the national security interests of the United States.”
For years, Qatar has provided a safe haven for Hamas masterminds,who live and operate in lavish Doha hotels. Qatar has enabled the mastermindsof Hamas, including Ismail Haniya, Mousa Abu Marzouk, and Khaled Mashal, notjust to carry out fundraising operations for the terrorist organization fromwithin the country, but to play an active role in planning Hamas’ attackagainst Israeli civilians on October 7th. While Qatar has beenclaiming that its ties to Hamas allows it to play the role of mediator, aimed atachieving a hostage release deal, these promises have not been delivered on.Qatar’s policy and actions have time and time again shown to undermine thenational security interests of the United States and of her allies.
Qatar has in the past also supported other terrorist organizations suchas Jabat Al Nusra, Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Additionally, Qatar has been at the forefront of theinformation war against Israel through its state run media Al Jazeera, whichhas served as Hamas propaganda. In the past, Al Jazeera has produced blood libels againstIsrael, hired active members of Hamas as journalists and glorified the Oct. 7thmassacre.
EMET will continue to monitor this most welcome development,and work to ensure that a reevaluation of the U.S.-Qatar relationship isincluded in the NDAA’s final version and enacted into law.
