According to the Peninsula of Qatar, the giant sketched image of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani – the iconic Tamim Al Majd picture – installed at Gharafa has become a must-visit attraction for Qataris and expatriates as people flock the spot day and night to show their love with the country and its leadership.
Outpouring of love gives iconic Tamim Al-Majd a mass touch up in Gharrafa #Qatar #Gulfcrisis https://t.co/e8mMzUimxV pic.twitter.com/YcDSR5BzbU
— The Peninsula (@PeninsulaQatar) 4 juillet 2017
Saudis, Emirates holding their passports infront of the big picture of the Qatar Emir to show their support against blockade on Qatar. pic.twitter.com/OOuC8FCSSk
— #IstandWithQatar (@IstandWithQatar) 6 juillet 2017
Everyone writes something on the white space of the giant billboard as per their emotions of love, loyalty and solidarity with the Emir and Qatar. Children are also not behind as they express their love by writing something mounting on the shoulders of their parents or using the roof of vehicles etc.
A man writes on a painting depicting Qatar�s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha, Qatar.jpg pic.twitter.com/U1l3YSBxrd
— Boateng Duka Kofi (@DukaKofi) 3 juillet 2017
Reuters reports today that the four Arab states leading the boycott against Qatar said late on Thursday that Doha’s refusal of their demands to resolve a Gulf diplomatic crisis is proof of its links to terror groups and that they would enact new measures against it.
The Four Arab countries isolating Qatar (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain) vowed on Friday, the 7th of July, in a joint statement, to take additional steps against the energy rich Gulf state after it refused to accept their initial list of 13 demands which was now void and pledging new political, economic and legal steps against Qatar.
The Qatari government sabotaged diplomatic efforts to solve the rift, the four states said, and its refusal affirmed its continuing sabotage of the region’s stability and security.
They vowed to “take all necessary political, economic and legal measures” against Qatar in a “timely manner.” They did not specify what those steps could include, though officials have previously suggested they could intensify efforts to isolate Qatar economically.
Since last month, the countries have cut diplomatic and transport ties withQatar, which they accuse of supporting terrorism and allying with regional foe Iran. Doha denies the charges.
The Peninsula of Qatar reported today that Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani affirmed that the siege imposed on Qatar is an act of aggression and an insult to any independent and sovereign country.
The Foreign MInister stressed that Qatar wouldn’t comply with any demands that it considers a violation of international law and would not comply with any action limited to Qatar alone. Any solution must include everyone, not Qatar alone.
On the other hand, for Gulfnews.com (article by Dr Salem Al Ketbi an Emirati political analyst), the boycott of Qatar is legitimate: it is a measure guaranteed in international law that allows cessation of dealings with states, individuals, bodies and institutions to put pressure on them, or in response to crimes or attacks.
“Qatar itself has employed the tool on several occasions in the past. It had called for the boycott of goods from many western countries when cartoons deriding the Prophet (PBUH) surfaced. It had also used it against countries that resorted to peace and normalisation of relations with Israel towards the end of the 20th century, long before Doha warmed up to Tel Aviv.”
However, Qatar Petroleum says production boost to go ahead regardless of Saudi axis blockade imposed last month.Qatar said on Tuesday it plans to increase natural gas production by 30 percent over the next several years, as it faces pressure from its neighbours in a diplomatic crisis. Don’t forget that Qatar’s vast wealth has largely been built on gas production.
Qatar had indicated earlier this year that it would increase LNG output by 15 million tonnes (MT) but it has more than doubled that figure to 33 MT. It brings annual production up from the current world-record of 77 MT to 100 MT.
According to Al-Jazeera, the chief executives of ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and France’s Total all met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha before it announced a plan on Tuesday to raise output of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 30 percent.
*Sources: CNBC, Reuters, The Peninsula Qatar, MiddleEastEye, Al-Jazeera.
Observer of the Near East 