Ep. 29: Qatar, Hamas & the Muslim Brotherhood: Inside Doha’s Influence Machine
In this episode of Misgav Mideast Horizons, hosts Asher Fredman and Lahav Harkov sit down with Dr. Ariel Admoni – one of Israel’s leading experts on Qatar – for a deep dive into the most controversial actor in the Middle East today.
Is Qatar merely a mediator between warring sides – or something far more strategic and dangerous?
Dr. Admoni, a Senior Fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, explains Qatar’s decades-long relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, its hosting and financing of Hamas leadership, and how Doha has positioned itself as the “default” intermediary for the United States – from Gaza to the Taliban to the Houthis. We examine whether Qatar’s role reflects good-faith mediation or a sophisticated strategy to legitimize terror actors while expanding its global influence.
The conversation explores:
- Qatar’s ideological and financial ties to the Muslim Brotherhood
- Whether Al Jazeera functions as an independent media outlet or a Qatari state instrument
- How Qatar leverages education, universities, aid, and media to shape Western discourse
- Qatar’s influence operations in Washington and Europe
- The controversy surrounding “Qatargate” in Israel
- Whether Qatar could ever join the Abraham Accords
- The strategic risks of Qatari involvement in post-war Gaza
Dr. Admoni argues that Qatar’s power lies not in overt confrontation, but in subtle, long-term influence – shaping academic narratives, political incentives, and media ecosystems across the West.
In the opening segment, Asher and Lahav analyze the latest developments regarding Iran and the possibility of renewed U.S.–Iran negotiations, Israel’s strategic timeline vis-à-vis Iranian missile and air defense rebuilding, Israel’s surprising economic resilience in 2025, and the debate over how democracies should combat rising antisemitism.
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