Doha withdraws its ambassador in Gaza for disputes over banker issue
Qatar-Palestine, Politics, 12/29/1999

The director of the Qatari foreign minister's office, Muhammad Jaham al-Kawari, stressed on Tuesday that his government withdrew its ambassador to the Palestinian government after it had become impossible to reach a solution to a dispute concerning Palestinian banker Issam Abu Issa, who carries Qatari nationality and is accused by the Palestinian government of money theft.

Al-Kawari stated, "Instructions were given by Doha to summon the ambassador, and we are on our way to evacuate."

He attributed this decision taken by Qatar to the "way the Palestinian Authority dealt with the negotiations to settle the issue of Palestinian banker Issan Abu Issa, who last week resorted to the embassy seeking protection." Al-Kawari continued that, "Pressures were also made by the Palestinian security forces that should not be made, including the detention on Monday night of Issa Abu Issa, the brother of Issam, at the time when we were meeting to find a solution."

Last week the Qatari Foreign Ministry sent al-Kawari to Gaza in an attempt to find a solution to the case of Abu Issa, who has strong relations with several high-ranking Qatari officials.

The Qatari ambassador to the Palestinian government, Abdullah al-Mutawi, said this measure does not mean severing of "diplomatic relations" and that the "Qatari Foreign Ministry will await a reply from the PA through its ambassador in Doha."

Previous Stories:
  Qatar bans any activities for Hamas movement leaders   (11/23/1999)
  Patriarch of Jerusalem visits Qatar   (11/10/1999)
  Qatari foreign minister gets a message from PLO officials   (10/13/1999)

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