On May 5, Israeli regime carried out an aggressive attack on a research center near capital Damascus that drew international criticism.
The Zionist army’s air strikes on Syria left tens of people dead or injured. According to a report submitted by Syrian foreign ministry to the UN at least 15 people were killed in the Israeli assault.
Yemenis strongly condemned Israel’s latest air strikes against Syria and urged the Syrian army to respond to the regime’s aggressions.
“We stand by Syrian people and government against Takfiri elements who seek to tear Syria apart with the help of Zionist enemy (Israel),” a protester told Al-Alam.
The protesters held signs condemning the United States, Israel and their allies for being responsible for the crisis in Syria and chanted slogans that “Syria remains free and stable”.
Syrian government released a statement saying that Israel’s airstrike on Syrian soil has opened the door “to all possibilities” and made the situation in the region more dangerous.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Israel against any further aggression on Syria, according to media reports.
During a Tuesday phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Putin said that “Russia would not tolerate further Israeli attacks on Damascus and would respond.”
Twist of Fate: Tunisians Condemn Qatar, Benghazi held anti-Qatar protest and burn Emir’s effigy
Tunisian protesters burned the Qatari flag in Gafsa during a demonstration organized by various political forces and civil society organizations to condemn the “Zionist attack on Syria” and show solidarity with the Syrian people.
Furious about the persistent interference of Qatar in Arab countries’ affairs, the protesters condemned Doha’s foreign policy and accused its Emir of supporting certain parties to serve his country’s agenda, as part of a conspiratorial scheme for the benefit of Israel and the international imperialist powers.
Tunisian protesters said that their country was renowned for its civilization and high position on the world compared to the small Persian Gulf state, which claims defending of freedom and democracy, while repressing its people, and silences all dissident voices, even those of poets.
Benghazi was another scene for anti-Qatar protesters which also burned flags and an effigy of Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani for its interferences in Libya’s affairs.
An estimated 500 protestors gathered outside the city’s Tibesti hotel to voice their anger against Qatar, their opposition to militiamen who had been besieging the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice in Tripoli, and their support for the government of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and the General National Congress.
As with demonstrators outside the Foreign Ministry in Tripoli, they also called for the dismissal of Chief of Staff Yousef Mangoush. “We shall put him in jail”, some chanted. They accused him of doing nothing for Libya’s security and of allowing the militiamen to act.
They said Qatar was supporting Salafists in Libya and called on the authorities to ban selling lands to Qatari citizens.
Several of the protestors waved the black flag of Cyrenaica, which until now has been the symbol of federalists.
Much of the opposition was directed however at Qatar which protesters claimed was supporting Libyan Salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood.
On May 9, Qatar vigorously denied that it has been interfering in Libya. A statement from its embassy in Tripoli yesterday said that it “rejected accusations of its intervention in Libya’s internal affairs and support for certain Libyan groups or political blocs”. The accusation was “false and unfounded”. Qatar’s role, it said, had been limited one of support and respect for the 17 February Revolution.
The statement did not cut ice with protestors in Tobruk today, where a Qatari flag was also burned.
Egyptians condemns Qatar, Rejects financial aid
Few weeks ago, Egyptian protesters also came to the streets, furious about Qatar’s foreign policy, and burned the Qatari flag and Israeli flags in front of its embassy in Mustafa Mahmoud Square, chanting “Down with the rule of the guide”.
Protesters from different opposition parties and revolution groups shouted slogans to express their outrage about the Qatari government and the Israel’s meddling in Egypt’s internal affairs, calling the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, an element of the US.
They objected receiving financial aids from Qatar because of Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani’s close ties with the US and the Zionist regime which they feared would have undesired consequences for Egypt.
On April 10, Qatari prime minister Hamad Bin Jassim revealed that Qatar would extend $3 billion to Egypt in the coming days in the form of either Egyptian treasury bonds or Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) deposits. However, CBE governor Hisham Ramiz said on Sunday that Egypt has not yet received the Qatari deposit for buying bonds.
The protest was later joined by a few Sudanese who voiced their opposition to the Qatari emir’s interference in Sudan’s internal affairs.
Palestinians burn effigy of Qatari Emir
The protesters linked to Fatah party also chanted slogans against Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hammad bin Khalifa Al Thani in the city of Tulkarem on April 4.
Damascus says the West and its regional allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are supporting the militants fighting the government forces in the country.
Both Fatah and Hamas groups slammed the burning of the effigy of Qatar’s emir, saying it did not reflect the opinion of the Palestinian leadership or people.
Acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement that Palestinians “respect the leaders of Arab countries and do not (seek to) interfere in their internal affairs.”
