Bahrain Mirror- Exclusive: The Emirati businessman and executive director of Barjeel Geojit Securities, Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, said that it is unlikely that the Gulf dispute would be resolved easily, adding that "this time, however, it is far more serious (from the previous time)" in reference to withdrawal of Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini ambassadors from Doha in 2014.

Al-Qassemi explained in an article he published on Monday (June 5, 2017) that "It is likely that this time the Gulf States will demand the complete shuttering of the Al Jazeera TV Network before any mediation can take place. Additionally, the plug will have to be pulled on networks funded by Qatar such as Al Araby Al Jadeed (The New Arab), originally set up to compete with Al Jazeera and headed by former politician and Palestinian citizen of Israel Azmi Bishara."

"Other Qatar backed networks that were accused of incitement on official Gulf TV channels include Al Quds Al Arabi (Arab Jerusalem) newspaper which was founded in London in 1989, online Arabic news portal Arabi 21, the London based website Middle East Eye, the Arabic version of Huffington Post which is headed by former Al Jazeera boss Waddah Khanfar and Al Khaleej Al Jadeed (the New Gulf)," he further stated.

Al-Qassemi who is known to have ties with decision-making bodies in the Emirates went on to say "The Gulf States and their Egyptian ally will also demand the expulsion of all Muslim Brotherhood leaders and their Hamas affiliate figures from Qatar, along with Azmi Bishara and Islamist writer Yasser Al-Za'atra."

"Other demands will include the sacking of Al Arab newspaper editor Abdullah Al-Athba who despite his unceasing and vapid criticism of the UAE has remained on top of the country's most important newspaper for years," he commented.

Al-Qassemi stated "Other non-negotiable demands by the Gulf States that I have been informed of include the reigning in of the misuse of Qatari-linked charitable organizations that have also been criticized by US State Department, as well as the cessation of incitement against the Egyptian state in Qatari-linked media that has continued since the removal of President Morsi in 2013."

"The three Gulf States are concerned that Qatar's ties with their adversary Iran go far beyond economic interest (both states share a common gas field) at a time when a unified front should be maintained," he added.

He continued "Qatar imports over 90 percent of its food, and by one estimate about 40 percent of that comes from the only land border (with Saudi Arabia), which is now closed."

Al-Qassemi said that he spoke with "one Gulf official" who stressed that "the sanctions will remain within international law," explaining that "there is no Plan B." Qatar must honor its commitments to its Gulf neighbors and "we will judge it by its action and no longer by its promises".

It must de-escalate the media coverage and must sever ties with extremist groups including, but not only, the Muslim Brotherhood and groups in Yemen. "We are willing to wait a long time (until this is rectified)," the official said.

Arabic Version