WikiLeaks cables: You can’t blame Israel for mistrusting Arabs, says Qatari ruler

Israelis can\'t be blamed for mistrusting Arabs, according to remarks by the ruler of the Arab state of Qatar released by the WikiLeaks group in the latest of a string of surprising revelations. Qatar\'s Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, made the comments in a meeting with U.S. Senator John Kerry on February 23. A report of their discussions, obtained by the WikiLeaks group, was filed by America\'s Ambassador to Qatar Joseph LeBaron.

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Jewish Journal

November 30, 2010

Israelis can’t be blamed for mistrusting Arabs, according to remarks by the ruler of the Arab state of Qatar released by the WikiLeaks group in the latest of a string of surprising revelations.

Qatar’s Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, made the comments in a meeting with U.S. Senator John Kerry on February 23. A report of their discussions, obtained by the WikiLeaks group, was filed by America’s Ambassador to Qatar Joseph LeBaron.

“The Israeli leaders need to represent the people of Israel, who themselves do not trust Arabs. The Emir said this is understandable and ‘we can’t blame them’ because the Israelis have been ‘under threat’ for a long time.’

According to the document, the Emir told Kerry that the time was ripe for an Israeli-Arab peace – and that in his opinion, the best way to achieve this was for Israel to reopen negotiations with Syria via Turkish mediation.