TEHRAN The Committee to Campaign Against Normalization of Cultural Ties With the Zionist Regime called the Qatari satellite TV, Al-Jezeera, the messenger of Zionist enemy'. In a statement published in Lebanon-based daily Al-Kefah al-Arabi on Saturday, the committee stressed that by airing political round tables attended by Zionist politicians, Al-Jezeera is trying to disseminate the views and ideas of the Zionists in the Arab world.
According to the statement, the TV network arranges TV discussions for the Zionist politicians and analysts and their supporters in Arab world. The statement was signed by over 60 intellectuals and thinkers from Arab countries who oppose the political and cultural invasion by the Zionist enemy. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak met the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on Friday, on the sidelines of the UN Millennium Summit in New York, an Israeli official said.
"This is the first meeting of an Israeli leader with the emir of Qatar," a senior Israeli official told AFP. "The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen ties and to discuss the upgrading of relations between the two countries," he added. Barak's top security advisor Danny Yatom and Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani, also took part in the meeting, Israeli officials said. The two sides agreed to expand ties between them, a statement released by Barak's office said.
"The emir of Qatar stressed that his country is a strong supporter of the peace process and it wishes it success, the emir added that his country will keep its ties with Israel whatever the circumstances may be," it added. Israel and Qatar established diplomatic relations in 1996 and opened interests offices in Tel Aviv and Doha dealing with commercial issues. RM514