U.S. Congress should impose sanctions on Qatar, cut Hamas 'lifelines'.

U.S. Congress should impose sanctions on Qatar, cut Hamas 'lifelines'. (JPost).

It is a tiny speck of a country, smaller than Connecticut, and home to fewer people than Chicago. But despite its diminutive size, the Gulf Arab state of Qatar is punching far above its weight and causing bloodshed and instability throughout the Middle East.

It is time that it be called to account for its deadly actions.

Though it bills itself as “a close ally of the United States” on the website of its Washington embassy, Qatar has been playing a double game for years, often working to undermine American and Western interests in the region.

Shortly before leaving his post, outgoing president Shimon Peres issued unusually harsh criticism of the Qataris, calling them “the world’s largest funder of terror.” 

Speaking with visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Peres said, “Qatar does not have the right to send money for rockets and tunnels which are fired at innocent civilians. Their funding of terror must stop.”

This view was seconded by former Israeli national security adviser Maj.-Gen. (res.) Ya’akov Amidror, who pointed out that the Gulf Arab emirate is practically keeping Hamas alive. “The one supporting this organization financially, almost alone, is Qatar,” he said.

On August 2 of last year, a bipartisan group of 24 Congressmen led by Republican Peter Roskam of Illinois and Democrat John Barrow of Georgia sent a letter to the Qatari ambassador to the US calling for an end to Qatar’s support of Hamas.

“Qatar’s support of Hamas,” Barrow said at the time, “jeopardizes the relationships between our governments, and it’s critical that we have answers.”

Nearly a year has passed, yet the Qataris continue to do as they please, fomenting violence, supporting terrorist groups, violating human rights and undermining American interests throughout the region.This cannot be allowed to continue. It makes a mockery of Washington’s stance, signaling to others that they can literally get away with murder in a dangerous part of the world.

If the carrot has failed to work with Qatar, then it is about time the US began reaching for the stick.Hmmm.....'State sponsor of terrorism' Obama 'ally'Read the full story here.