Calls for a boycott of foreign firms doing business with the Zionist entity have been growing since the Palestinian uprising (Intifada) started on Sept. 28.

Saudi Arabia this week urged Arab countries to consider a boycott of foreign firms doing business with Israel if the Middle East peace efforts fail.

In the meantime, Qatar is still following a pro-Zionist policy. This week, Doha announced that a Zionist would head the newly established American university in that country.

Qatar hosted a regional economic conference in November, but faced serious opposition from the Arab world because of the Israeli presence in Doha.

The same happened when a conference of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) was held last month in Doha. Several countries boycotted that conference or sent low-level delegations.

The presence of an Israeli trade office in Doha is evidence of the pro-Zionist policy of the Qatari rulers. Qatari officials lied when they said that they had closed down the Israeli trade office, as informed sources confirmed that it was still in operation.

Before 1993, Arab countries had been boycotting foreign companies doing business with the Zionist entity. That boycott has virtually collapsed since the start of the so-called peace process in 1993.

Now many countries are in favor of resuming the boycott to teach a lesson to the Zionist regime. Since the start of the Intifada, at least 459 Palestinians have been martyred, including children.

The call for a boycott is natural, since the United Nations Security Council has done nothing about the Zionist brutality in the occupied territories.

The Qatari position is contrary to the interests of the Palestinians and the Muslim world as a whole. Doha should pay due attention toward the plight of the oppressed Palestinians, who are fighting for their genuine rights.

There will be serious consequences if Qatar ignores the call of Muslims to distance itself from the Zionist regime.