A cautionary note on Qatar: Smart diplomacy must also be safe

President Trump deserves credit for doing what others could not, helping bring calm to Gaza and pushing for a broader peace in the Middle East. His instincts for deal-making, for cutting through diplomatic fog, have always been his greatest asset.

But even the best deals can hide dangerous consequences. The new U.S. security guarantee for Qatar - the first of its kind in the region - is one such moment that calls for reflection, not criticism.

The goal is understandable: reward Qatar for mediating and maintaining communication lines in a volatile region. 

Yet Qatar’s track record makes this an extremely risky bet. 

This is a country that has hosted Hamas leadership for over a decade, giving the group’s senior operatives freedom, financing, and legitimacy under the pretext of “dialogue.” 

These same figures were still in Doha even after the October 7 massacre.

At the same time, Qatar’s state media empire, Al Jazeera, has fueled global antisemitism and anti-Western propaganda for years. 

It has broadcast lies about Israel, minimized the Holocaust, and glorified attacks on Jews, from Tel Aviv to Paris. 

In 2019, Al Jazeera’s digital channel even published a video questioning the Holocaust, and it was only after international outrage that staff were suspended.

When Secretary of State Antony Blinken privately asked Qatar to “turn down the volume” on Al Jazeera’s war coverage because of “anti-Israel incitement,” it was more than a polite diplomatic note,  it was a warning that the network’s poison spreads far beyond the Middle East. 

Even the Palestinian Authority banned Al Jazeera from the West Bank earlier this year, accusing it of “inciting violence.”

That’s the context in which America has now pledged to defend Qatar. Meanwhile, genuine allies, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan, who actually fight terrorism and carry the regional burden may wonder what message this sends.

To be clear: President Trump’s strategic goal of regional stability is right. His achievements — from the Abraham Accords to Israel’s alignment under U.S. Central Command — have reshaped the region. 

But for this success to endure, America must not confuse convenience with trust. Qatar cannot continue playing both firefighter and arsonist — funding extremists while posing as mediator.

What Washington Should Demand in Return

- Close Hamas’s political office and expel its leadership. Mediation cannot mean sheltering murderers.

- Reform Al Jazeera’s editorial code. No Holocaust distortion, no glorification of violence, no antisemitic content — with international oversight.

- End the Gaza cash pipeline. Aid must go through transparent, multilateral mechanisms that help civilians, not militias.

- Open Al-Udeid Air Base to full U.S. operations against Iran’s threat network. Partnership means access, not restrictions.

- Make any U.S. security guarantee conditional and renewable. Qatar’s protection must depend on clear performance benchmarks.

These steps would not weaken President Trump’s legacy — they would protect it. A deal that balances power with accountability would reinforce his vision of an American-led order built on strength, not sentiment.

Qatar has played both sides for too long. If it wants America’s shield, it must earn it through action, not by writing checks or running propaganda. Real peace is built on truth, not theater.