By Goodhope Dlangamandla
26:08:2022

James Dorsey, journalist and political analyst, says that the Israelites have made it clear that they are not happy with the agreement of the final versions to revive the Iran nuclear deal negotiated. That led to the Israeli national security advisor heading to Washington this week to negotiate with the Americans to alleviate and accommodate the Israelis.

He added that the Gulf States are less concerned about the nuclear program of Iran and more concerned about the ballistic missile program and Iran’s use of proxies, and they hope to somehow neutralize that by improving relations.

Regarding the UAE out competing Qatar and Turkey in Afghanistan, he reported that Qatar and Turkey emerged from the US withdrawal as the seemingly strongest Middle Eastern players in Afghanistan, and Qatar played a massive role in helping the Americans evacuate from Afghanistan last August.

“He says the first tell-tale sign was that the Qataris or the Turks were expected to get the management contract for Kabul international airport, which they did not get; instead, the UAE got it. And the reason that the UAE is emerging as an important power broker, In Afghanistan is that they have had, despite their claim to promoting a moderate form of Islam had, long-standing relationships with the Haqqani network,” said Dorsey.

In the matter concerning the court of Saudi Arabia sentencing the former Imam of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca to 10 years in prison, Dorsey says,” the former Imam of Grand Mosque had objected to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rolling out of a Western-style entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia; as a result, he was arrested.”

He says this further demonstrates that Mohamed bin Salman does not brook any dissent of any nature or kind, no matter the criticism. He says it indicates that they are among the ultra-conservative parts of the clergy and the population in Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on deported workers who protested against unpaid salaries, he says the protest was specific. “The Qatari authorities stepped in to make sure that salaries are paid, but at the same time, they are penalizing workers who participated in the strike by expelling them. And that’s not a very good optics three months before the world cup,” said Dorsey.

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