At the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference held at the Friends of Zion media center in Jerusalem, Oded Ailam, former head of the Mossad's Counterterrorism Division and researcher for the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, provided frank insights into Israel’s evolving security approach and Qatar’s contentious influence in the region.
“I wanted to be a rock star,” Ailam joked, "but it didn’t work out, so I became a spy.” Discussing Israel’s recent strike in Doha, he noted, “Israel has been trying to move forward and change the game in the region, which means there’s no more immunity for those who host terrorists, it’s over."
Ailam highlighted Qatar’s significant impact: "Since 2012, we’re talking about $1.8 billion in support to Hamas, not just money, but media backing as well, especially Al Jazeera. Let’s not forget those brutal hostage-release scenes... orchestrated, showcased, and even directed by Al Jazeera.”
He compared Qatar’s tactics to Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid, saying, "They send the child to cause trouble, then come with a cart asking, ‘Who wants to fix the window?’”
Regarding negotiations, Ailam claimed Hamas leaders in Qatar now hold more power than those within Gaza, stating, "Curiously, they are more stubborn and hardline," suggesting Doha’s influence in hardening their positions.
His closing statement was direct: "Israel should not allow Qatar to act as a mediator again unless it abandons its anti-Semitic attitudes and shuts down Al Jazeera.”
Written in collaboration with Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs