File picture used for representation.
Collaboration between a pro-Israel think tank FDD and the UAE to downgrade the image and importance of Qatar as a regional and global power.
The leak also includes a proposed agenda for an upcoming meeting between the FDD and the UAE government scheduled for June 11-14.
The hacked emails taken from the inbox of the UAE's ambassador to the United States have revealed an anti Qatar campaign to downgrade the image and importance of the country.
A group of Hackers called "Global Leaks" yesterday released the first series of emails taken from the inbox of the UAE's ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba. Spokesman for the UAE embassy in Washington has stressed that the ambassador's email was hacked.
The leaks ‘reveal how millions of dollars were used to hurt the reputation of American allies and cause policy changes, reported Daily Beast newspaper. Another news orgnanisation ‘The Intercept’ reported yesterday that the emails, show a close relationship between Al Otaiba and a pro-Israel, neoconservative think tank — the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
The hacked emails, some of which dated back to 2014, reveal a high-level of backchannel cooperation between the FDD, which is funded by pro-Israel billionaire Sheldon Anderson, and the Gulf country. They also appear to show clear collaboration between the FDD and the UAE on a campaign to downgrade the image and importance of Qatar as a regional and global power, including collusion with journalists who have published articles accusing Qatar and Kuwait of supporting "terrorism".
'Emails laid bare mechanism behind high-stakes campaign against Qatar'
Ziad Jilani, one of the authors of The Intercept report, told Al Jazeera the emails support previous allegations "that there is a growing axis between some of the Gulf countries, like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and Israel".
David Hearst, the Editor in Chief of Middle East Eye, told Al Jazeera the emails laid bare the "mechanism" behind "a very high stakes campaign that is being launched against Qatar".
Otaiba is well-known figure in US national security circles - he has been called "the most charming man in Washington" - and has participated in Pentagon strategy meetings at the invitation of the defence officials.
The leaked emails include an exchange in which FDD senior counselor John Hannah - a former deputy national security advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney - complains to Otaiba that Qatar is hosting a meeting of Hamas at an Emirati-owned hotel.
Otaiba responds that the UAE is not at fault and that the real problem lies with the US military base in Qatar.
He writes: "How's this, you move the base then we'll move the hotel :-)"
The leak also includes a proposed agenda for an upcoming meeting between the FDD and the UAE government scheduled for June 11-14.
The agenda includes in-depth discussions specifically on Qatar, including Qatar-based Al Jazeera, and its links to the Muslim Brotherhood.
One item on the agenda is: "Al Jazeera as an instrument of regional instability".
"They actually discussed recasting Al Jazeera as a disruptive network, a network that is causing instability and chaos, rather than recognised good journalism," The Intercept's Jilani told Al Jazeera.
Attendees set to take part in the June meeting include former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Mark Dubowitz, CEO of FDD.
Other FDD emails ask for meetings with high-ranking figures including Mohammed bin Zayed - the crown prince who runs the UAE's armed forces - as well as Mohammed Dahlan, a former strongman of the Palestinian Fatah group who now lives in Abu Dhabi. A large portion of the emails focus on "US/UAE polices to positively impact Iranian internal situation" and to "contain and defeat Iranian aggression". Another email in the leak shows the FDD and the UAE looking to pressure businesses to pull out of Iran.
In early March, Dubowitz emailed Otaiba a listing non-US businesses operating in Saudi Arabia or the UAE "looking to invest in Iran".
The Daily Beast was reported on Friday that it had been approached by the hackers, who offered a sample of the emails they said demonstrated "how a small rich country/company used lobbyists to hurt American interests and those of it allies". According to the Daily Beast, the hackers said the documents had been provided to them by a paid whistle-blower in a Washington, DC lobbying group and contained emails from Otaiba's Hotmail account.
