Dubai police commander’s online calls for ‘invasion of Qatar’ spark controversy

Dubai’s head of security and police chief, General Dhahi Khalfan, sparked controversy by calling for an invasion of Qatar and the normalisation of ties with Israel in a series of tweets. 

The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt cut all diplomatic, travel and trade ties with Qatar in 2017, after accusing it of supporting terrorism. Doha has denied the claim. 

The four countries then produced a joint list of demands to be carried out by Qatar within 10 days, including cutting diplomatic ties with Iran and shutting down Al-Jazeera, its affiliated channels and other outlets funded by Qatar.

Translation: An Arab invasion of Qatar...and the arrest of a young boy...will end many issues...hand over the ruling of Qatar to someone who deserves it and enter into reconciliation with Israel… and everything will end.

Translation:  If courage meant anything to you, you would not have talked about the mobilisation of Arab countries on a country which you say is very small. This deficiency you have can’t be made up for using janjaweed...

Translation: When you call for the invasion of the very small Qatar, this is an admission that the four ‘blockade countries’ have failed to try and invade Qatar and they need an even greater alliance. On the whole, Ibn Zayed knows Qatar does not buy weapons and missiles to place in museums.

Some have called the tweet a threat to state security and called on action from Twitter.

Translation: How does Twitter allow such tweets, which are a clear and explicit threat to state security? Will we see any action from Twitter or will they turn a blind eye to this and other similar tweets which have gone unnoticed?

Earlier this week, Khalfan also sparked controversy by calling for the normalisation of relations with Israel.

In a tweet, Khalfan stated that "not recognising Israel has no meaning, Israel is a state built on knowledge, prosperity and relations with all the countries of the developed world. Who are you to not recognise a nation with the international status of Israel…”.

In another tweet, Khalfan called for the use of the term "Israeli friend" instead of "Israeli enemy”.

Translation: Instead of using the term Israeli enemy, use the term Israeli friend...what’s the issue?

Khalfan had previously caused controversy online when he called on Doha to give up the World Cup.

This article is available in French on Middle East Eye French edition.