By Khalid Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem

It is very difficult to underestimate or downplay the visit of the Qatari Emir, his highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani to the Gaza Strip. The visit, short in its duration, will be proven monumental in its symbolism as well as its practical ramifications. The fact that an Arab statesman has decided to fly in the face of Israeli hegemony and the so-called "international consensus" by visiting the thoroughly abandoned, thoroughly blockaded, thoroughly starved and thoroughly tormented Gaza is a badge of honor for Qatar and its gallant and generous Emir.

Much of the Gaza Strip was flattened by a diabolical, Nazi-like Zionist blitzkrieg a few years ago. Gaza and its abandoned 1.7 million human beings cried out for help, only to find empty words or even indifference from the bulk of Arab regimes. Some Arab states have been too cowardly to identify with a wounded Gaza lest they upset America and Israel.

Hence these states opted to leave Gaza to die quietly rather than displease the Pharaohs of our time. Others were so hostile to the Islamic ideology of the rulers of Gaza that they preferred to watch thousands of Gazans fall victim to starvation and poverty than extend a helping hand to the last defenders of Arab honor and Islamic dignity.

It was mainly Qatar that rolled the sleeves up, hastening to the rescue of Gaza, unfazed and undeterred by criticisms from friends and foes alike.

Thank God, Qatar wiped away the tears that were streaming down the orphans' faces and restored a certain smile to some of those who never experienced a moment of joy in their lives.

Qatar is not a super power, neither in the political nor in the economic sense. However, Qatar is a moral super power in its own right.

One may not agree with everything the Emir of Qatar and state of Qatar have done, including hosting American military bases on the small island.

None the less, whatever one's objections about this dimension of Qatar's internal policies, one should never forget or ignore the positive role the small emirate has carried out in the Arab world,

Qatar played an indispensable role in enabling Libya to get rid of its infamous tyrant. Qatar is also generously helping post-revolutionary Egypt overcome its chronic economic troubles which accumulated during decades of mismanagement, corruption and dictatorship by the defunct Mubarak regime.

And now, Qatar is actively helping freedom fighters in Syria against one of the most evil and most murderous regimes in the history of mankind.

Yes, this help may not be sufficient, given the huge firepower of the cultic sectarian regime in Damascus.

Needless to say, this evil regime is supported and backed by the evil powers of the world, while other evil powers, including NATO, are watching passively as Syrians are being slaughtered en mass, all in order to satiate Assad's thirst for Syrian blood.

We are hearings a lot of dog-barking from several quarters. Others, including some Palestinians, have spoken abusively of the emir of Qatar. Well, let us not dignify these little men by commenting on their ranting and raving.

Qatar is at least doing its duty while others are escaping theirs, watching the Syrian genocide unfold. Once again, this is a great honor for Qatar, while others remained ensconced in their cowardliness and ineptitude.

On this occasion, we must salute Qatar and its brave emir for their unselfishness and self-abnegation. We salute Qatar for its heroic solidarity with the people of Gaza. We salute Qatar for doing its duty on behalf of an Umma that is yet to wake up from its prolonged dormancy.

May the Almighty help Qatar achieve more prosperity and give its emir good health and longevity.

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By Khalid Amayreh Source: The Palestinian Information Center http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/en/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s75i62FNtnSrLqSP7SlcIRj6yyJWd4SEeFr61CvV6TrtzjbBRux11W99nOcskY0n2V%2bzmRz1GG95VK8Y%2fUDM4NgSIcgAjJgJVFNfT6Y0ngMb4%3d

Khalid Amayreh
Occupied Palestine
amayreh2050@yahoo.com
solomonalfred@gmail.com