Ambitious, proud, and arrogant, the emirs of Qatar believe they can conquer the world thanks to their natural resources and overflowing pockets. The fortune of the Al Thani family, who have ruled the country for decades, is estimated at $172 billion. These newly rich know no bounds and often cross red lines. Since the FIFA World Cup in Doha in November-December 2022, the tiny emirate has managed to become a media empire with the launch of BEI Sports and by acquiring broadcasting rights for all sporting events. To garner sympathy and improve their image, the Qataris are capable of laundering money and paying bribes, even within European institutions.
In December 2022, the first Qatargate scandal erupted in Brussels. Belgian police uncovered a shameful act at the European Parliament. Qatar was alleged to have paid substantial sums to influence decisions in its favor. More than €1.5 million in cash was seized during raids. Several MEPs were arrested, including Eva Kaili, the Greek vice-president, as well as a lobbying network run by Italians. The current French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, a former MEP and now a candidate in the upcoming Paris mayoral elections, was also suspected.
The French capital has been a favorite of Qatari investments for several decades. A very advantageous tax agreement encourages this small emirate to invest many billions of dollars in luxury buildings, palaces, hotels, such as the Royal Monceau , an international conference center at the Quai d'Orsay which became the Peninsula… or the purchase of the building housing the headquarters of the newspaper Le Figaro … and numerous properties and mansions on the French Riviera and elsewhere.
The Qatari fund QIA (Qatar Investment Authority) has acquired in London the famous Harrods department store, The Shard skyscraper (the tallest tower in Europe) and prestigious hotels such as The Savoy and Claridge.
Initially, Qatar focused on real estate investments and sports, such as the acquisition of the Paris Saint-Germain football club. Following the resignation of Tottenham Hotspur's executive chairman, Daniel Levy, the Qataris are now looking to acquire this club, founded in 1882, as well as Manchester United, founded in 1878.
It is worth recalling that Qatar donated $6 million for the construction of a modern football stadium in Sakhnine, an Arab city in northern Israel…
Since October 7, 2023, the focus has been on soft power in diplomacy, culture and education in schools and universities, in France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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Qatar uses Al Jazeera to exert influence and act as an intermediary, both in resolving local conflicts and in influencing European and American politics. This channel is a strategic tool for shaping international public opinion and maintaining its position as a key diplomatic player. While it broadcasts in several languages, it does not always adhere to journalistic standards and ethics. We have seen this in the incomplete reports from Gaza since the massacre of October 7, 2023.
Even worse, disinformation isn't confined to social media; it's also found in the production of school textbooks. Recently, Hachette Publishers withdrew three baccalaureate exam revision books from sale because they falsify the facts of the October 7th massacre. In this despicable text, we can read, among other things: " Following the deaths of more than 1,200 Jewish settlers during a series of Hamas attacks, Israel decided to strengthen its economic blockade and invade a large part of the Gaza Strip, triggering a major humanitarian crisis in the region."
Incredible but true. In the France of Victor Hugo and Emile Zola, words are now trivialized, unjust, deceptive, and destructive. Is the power of words now being falsified by a foreign hand?
Fortunately, the LICRA, the League against racism and anti-Semitism, was the first to raise the alarm about this forger, and President Macron condemned it severely.
We also note that the French government is not effectively and thoroughly monitoring publications also available in Arabic. Are they not identical to those discovered by the IDF in Gaza schools, in schools funded and run by UNRWA? Are they not propaganda books and pamphlets justifying the narrative of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood? Why is systematic oversight of Islamist study centers almost entirely ignored by the authorities?
After the dark years of Nazism and the deception of Communism, Europe is now being invaded by Islamist ideology.
Militarily and economically weakened, incapable of pursuing a coherent policy, powerless against Russia and China, and fearful of Trump's America, it is turning to the wealthy Emirates for survival. For example, Total Energies has signed a strategic partnership with Qatar for the supply of liquefied natural gas for a period of 27 years.
However, Qatar has ambitions in all areas of society and spheres of life. Without any financial difficulties or legal or commercial constraints, it is investing in Europe in the energy transition, healthcare, aerospace, and culture.
Artificial intelligence is part of its investments. Following this logic, it is highly likely that it will be used tomorrow to manipulate and falsify historical facts about the Israeli-Arab conflict and impose a new Islamist narrative.
It is estimated that Qatar has invested over €55 billion in France and Germany, and only €46 billion in the United Kingdom. This wealthy emirate is also one of the most important clients of the European, and particularly French, arms industry.
Of course, trade relations between states are crucial for economic development and industrial wealth.
And yet, through enormous investments in Europe and America, Qatar shamelessly dictates the international agenda.
As far as we are concerned, it cannot be ruled out that Qatar will intervene discreetly and financially in the parliamentary election campaign to increase the number of seats for the unified list of the Arab minority in the Knesset.
It is worth recalling that Azmi Bishara, founder of the Balad party and former member of the Knesset (1996-2007), was accused of spying for Hezbollah. He went into exile in Doha and has been an influential advisor to the Emir of Qatar for the past 18 years.
Over the years, Doha has become a haven for Islamist terrorism, and Hamas has gained a prominent presence. Europe and Trump's America will need to be vigilant and very cautious before allowing Qatar to play a significant political role in the conflict with the Palestinians. While money may be odorless, this particular cash is dirty, reeking of corruption. Diplomatic briefcases overflowing with cash have primarily been used to purchase weapons and construct attack tunnels against the Jewish state.
Doha's goal is clear: to safeguard Hamas's presence in the Gaza Strip.
Given Europe's inability to supervise Qatar's creeping and dangerous activities in Europe and our region, the Israeli government will have to take on this task and create a vigilance committee like the one that already exists regarding school textbooks distributed by the Palestinian Authority.
Qatar's soft power is aggressive and coordinated with Erdogan's Turkey. These two Islamist actors, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, have become indispensable in diplomatic decisions.
We should refuse any mediation from them regarding the solution to the Palestinian problem and not allow them military participation in peacekeeping.
The defense of the State of Israel and the absolute security of our citizens come well before normalization with Muslim countries even if the risk would be a total disagreement with the United States.
