Qatari Newspapers Editorials

Doha, January 05 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers highlighted in their editorials on Thursday Qatar's global leadership at various levels, as it has become an attractive country for domestic and foreign investments thanks to its good reputation, reliability, distinguished legal and regulatory legislation, and strong economy. The Qatari dailies also pointed to Qatar's strong condemnation and denunciation of storming Al-Aqsa Mosque, reiterated by the Cabinet in its weekly meeting yesterday. Under the headline "Qatar... Attractive and Safe Destination for Foreign Investment," Al-Raya newspaper said that the State of Qatar continues its global leadership at various levels. After the impressive success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in terms of organization, preparations and accompanying events, the State added a new achievement to its honorable record, after the "FDI Standouts Watchlist 2023" report by fDi Intelligence revealed that Qatar ranks first among the world’s top destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI), owing to its strong economic and investment momentum into 2023. Al-Raya underlined that Qatar has become an attractive country for domestic and foreign investments thanks to its good reputation and reliability, the adoption of encouraging legal and regulatory legislation, and the provision of economic facilities, making it an attractive environment for investments that maintained the strength of its economy and attracted investors from all over the world, until it became a global center for safe investment. The investment climate in the State of Qatar is very encouraging, given the quality and quantity of the services provided to investors, which contribute to facilitating procedures related to investment applications, establishing companies, and completing transactions, in addition to the privileges available to owners of international companies and investors to enter the Qatari market and expand towards regional markets, the paper indicated. Al-Rayan believed that the State of Qatar pursued progressive policies and financial and legislative reforms to attract foreign investment, which have had a tangible positive impact on the strength of the national economy. Qatar continues its progress with confident steps towards achieving its National Vision 2030, by establishing a strong development base that consolidates its position as one of the most important economic, commercial and investment destinations in the world, the paper added. In this context, Al-Raya pointed to the newly released "FDI Standouts Watchlist 2023" by fDi Intelligence which revealed that Qatar ranks first among the world’s top 50 FDI destinations, expected to carry the strongest investment momentum into 2023. The report showed that Qatar has achieved a 70% annual growth in FDI projects between 2019 and 2022, and its economy is expected to grow by 2.4% in 2023. This confirms the State's keenness on implementing a comprehensive economic program that consolidates the achievements and gains made over the past years, and builds on them to meet the priorities targeted in the national development strategy, Al-Raya noted. On the other hand, Qatari daily Al-Sharq highlighted in its editorial the broad regional and international condemnation of storming Al-Aqsa Mosque by Minister of National Security in the Israeli entity Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the meeting of the UN Security Council which will be held today to discuss the Palestinian issue. The paper noted that the Cabinet reiterated in its weekly meeting yesterday the State of Qatar's strong condemnation and denunciation of storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque, considering it a flagrant violation of the international law and resolutions, a deliberate provocation to Muslims all around the world, and a dangerous escalation of the ongoing Israeli practices desecrating the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Judaizing Jerusalem, changing its legal and historical status quo, expanding settlements, and the continuous daily brutal attacks on Palestinians. Since the emergence this crime, the State of Qatar sensed the serious repercussions of this provocative step on security and stability in the region, and issued a statement voicing its position on this dangerous Israeli scheme, the paper noted. In this context, Al-Sharq noted that HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held yesterday a phone call with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu. The two sides urged the international community to take urgent action to stop Israel's systematic escalatory policy against the Palestinian people. For its part, Al-Watan newspaper said in its editorial that Qatar's position on the Palestinian issue is based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, and the Arab Peace Initiative, to support the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Qatar has always stressed these firm principles to find a just, lasting, and comprehensive solution to this conflict, as it is the only way to spread security, stability, and peace in the entire Middle East region. The occupation authorities' action, including the Israeli National Security Minister's storming of the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday, under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, constitutes a flagrant violation of the international law and resolutions, a deliberate provocation to Muslims all around the world, and a dangerous escalation of the ongoing Israeli practices desecrating the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Judaizing Jerusalem, changing its legal and historical status quo and expanding settlements, the paper added. The newspaper called for the international community to take urgent and firm action to compel Israel to stop its violations and provocations, and implement the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy by engaging in a well-defined political process based on what is agreed upon internationally. Al-Watan concluded its editorial by saying that we have seen several examples of the international community's ability to resolve conflicts when it desires. However, what is not understood is the international community's inability to deal with Israeli violations and only suffice with statements on a matter that requires imposing something different to achieve comprehensive peace after these long decades of suffering. For its part, the English-language newspaper The Peninsula reported that the Arab and Islamic world has voiced deep concerns over the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israel’s new extreme-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday, under the protection of the occupation authorities. In its editorial entitled "Israel's flagrant violation," the newspaper said that Qatar termed the act a flagrant violation of international law and the Hashemite guardianship over the holy sites in Occupied Jerusalem. Doha warned against the escalation policy pursued by the Israeli government in the occupied Palestinian territories, saying compromising the religious and historic situation of Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only a violation of the Palestinians but of millions of Muslims worldwide. This provocative move came on the heels of last week's inauguration of the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, led by Benjamin Netanyahu. It also came after months of increased violence and Israeli brutality against Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank, the paper added. The newspaper concluded its editorial by referring to Cabinet's statement on Wednesday that the international community must take urgent and firm action to compel Israel to stop its violations and provocations, and implement the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly before the cycle of violence spreads and hopes fade to establish a real peace that restores the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, with the establishment of their independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. (QNA)