Curious and cut short. What was the precise purpose, wonders Saleh Al-Naami It was ironic that both Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) criticised the visit by Qatar's Prince Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to Gaza on Tuesday, during which he launched several construction projects in the Gaza Strip. Yigal Balmore, spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, described the visit as "encouraging Hamas which is violent and undermines the Palestinian Authority that has chosen the negotiations route." Spokesmen for Fatah and PLO factions, meanwhile, accused Qatar of deepening inter-Palestinian divisions and empowering Hamas not to show any flexibility in ending divisions. PLO factions in Gaza boycotted the prince's visit and some justified this by referencing "Qatar's ties with Israel". This was an especially pitiful excuse since PLO factions sit at the same table with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who believes security cooperation with Israel is essential for Palestinian national security. The PLO views Qatari reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip as interference to deepen divisions, but these claims are baseless since both Fatah and Hamas are responsible for ongoing disputes. Egypt and Qatar, in fact, have in the past sponsored several deals between the two sides to end divisions, but Fatah and Hamas were directly responsible for the failure to implement the agreements. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that Qatar funding several reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip and a visit by the country's ruler to inaugurate them is a move of significant support for Hamas's rule there. Bin Khalifa's visit was the first by any Arab ruler since 1967 and which also gives Hamas a political boost, and will dramatically change the economic environment in Gaza. In the first phase of reconstruction, Qatar will spend nearly $400 million that will radically drop unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip and dramatically revive the economy. It will also boost many professional sectors especially ones related to construction, and will improve the investment environment there after tens of millions of dollars are spent to renovate Salaheddin Street that connects north and south Gaza. Qatari projects will also alleviate housing problems since the prince lay down the foundation stone for a new housing complex. He also launched a hospital for prosthetics that is a significant contribution to the healthcare sector in the Gaza Strip, since hundreds of young Palestinians have lost their limbs because of Israeli bombs. Thus, these projects are also bound to boost the popularity of Hamas and empower its rule. This is what angers the PA which itself is suffering a crippling economic crisis, and even unable to pay government salaries. The question now is: while these projects boost Hamas's standing what is Qatar's and its prince's interest in doing so? A key reason is raising Qatar's regional profile, which is the same reason why in the past it helped rebuild South Lebanon and districts in southern Lebanon after the second war in Lebanon. At the same time, Qatar is seeking to strengthen ties with Islamist movements and their leaders who rise to power. This explains the strong ties between Qatar and Islamist movements especially in countries where Arab Spring revolutions have succeeded. Among other things, Qatar's actions also aim to boost the legitimacy of the regime in Doha since the Arab masses are sympathetic to Islamist movements. At the same time, the human tragedy suffered by Gaza residents and the volume of Arab and Islamic popular sentiment towards them would improve the standing of any Arab regime that assists in alleviating their suffering. Qatar's efforts, of course, would not have succeeded if it were not for decisions by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi who allowed the passage of all construction materials needed for these projects. This is a significant decision by Morsi because otherwise these projects would have remained ink on paper because Israel would never allow construction material into Gaza through the commercial border crossings under its control. The prince's visit also came on the eve of Morsi's decision to resume the transfer of oil that Qatar donated a few months ago to the sole power plant in the Gaza Strip. Whatever Qatar's reasons and the controversy the visit has triggered, there is no doubt that Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are relieved because of the influx of much-needed funds.
