RUTHFULLY YOURS

There were rumors this week that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas might ultimately include a consortium of Arab countries taking charge of the Gaza Strip.

Unfortunately, hardly anything could be more dangerous than that for the stability of the region. A consortium of Arab countries governing the tiny strip of land next to Israel is, in fact, is a sure-fire recipe for a monstrous conflict just around the corner. This plan will make all the breathtaking achievements of US President Donald J. Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the great US Air Force and the Israel Defense Forces be for naught.

The problem: If a consortium of Arab countries controls the Gaza Strip, one of those countries is bound to be Qatar. Qatar will no doubt make sure of that. One of Qatar’s main reasons for existing is to make sure that radical Islamic organizations stay active and well-funded. It is hard to think of an Islamist terrorist group that has not been a large beneficiary of Qatar — from ISIS, to al-Qaeda, to the Taliban, not to mention Hamas.

Udi Levy, a former senior official of Israel’s Mossad spy agency who dealt with economic warfare against terrorist organizations, stated that “Qatar is at the top of funding terrorism worldwide, even more than Iran.”

Levy also said, as quoted by Joseph Puder, director of the Interfaith Taskforce for America and Israel, that “Qatar has conquered Europe.”

Puder goes on to note:

“The Qatari regime utilizes its controlled news outlet Al-Jazeera (in English and Arabic) to defame Israel, as well as to promote Hamas and other Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated terror groups. Al-Jazeera employed Hamas terrorists who perpetrated the massacre of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023….

“Another method by which the Qataris further their influence is by contributing to major American universities and purchasing academic chairs. Huge contributions to top schools like Harvard, Columbia and Cornell rob students of academic free thinking by following an Islamist-inspired imprint in social sciences and the humanities.

“Concurrently, student groups such as American Muslims for Palestine and Students for Justice in Palestine receive enormous funding from Qatar enabling them to coordinate massive anti-Israel and anti-Jewish protests and encampments, such as those at Columbia University and other U.S. campuses.

“[T]he Qatar Foundation International has donated more than $450,000 to Arizona public schools and more than $30 million to public schools nationwide….

“While investing in large American and European enterprises, they are also funding terror against Israel and the West….

“The Gulf state… has used its wealth in nefarious ways by creating a global network that supports the Muslim Brotherhood’s aim of making the world the domain of Islam….

“The Trump administration and Congress must take decisive action against the Qataris by demanding full disclosure of all monies received from Qatar by universities and businesses. Universities that continue to allow the funding of violent hate groups, such as Students for Justice in Palestine, must be denied federal funds and prosecuted.”

Qatar’s job, if it is part of a consortium controlling the Gaza Strip, will be to make sure that the jihad against Israel continues.

Another problem: If Egypt is in any way involved in securing the Gaza Strip, it is certain there will be renewed smuggling of weapons and terrorists into Israel through and under the Rafah Crossing. The weapons-and-terrorists industry has always been far too profitable and far too successful at attacking Israel just to give up.

Trump’s original plan to make Gaza an American Riviera, together with Israel — or Israeli sovereignty by itself — is a far more dependable way to guarantee security. It is, in fact, the only way to ensure that Israel can either defend itself, or has a US shield nearby to deter aggression — the same way the US stations the forward HQ of Central Command and Air Forces Central Command at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, to protect its survival.

Trump is brilliant enough not to be led into a fake-Abrahamic trap.

Lawrence Kadish serves on the Board of Governors of Gatestone Institute.