Tiny Qatar vies for big regional role

But some foreign diplomats here make light of Qatar's arguably undiscerning diplomacy – saying that having money to throw around does not translate into influence and being daring and different is a far cry from being mature. No officials, however, will say this on the record.

"Qatar is like a pendulum when it comes to foreign policy. It swings drastically and you never know what you are going to get. They seem to enjoy poking in the eyes of everyone," says one Western diplomat, asking not to be identified.

"Provoking everyone is a method of survival," adds another, speaking with the same condition of anonymity. "Basically, they are holding the stick on both sides. They would hold it on more sides if there were any."

Egypt's ambassador to Qatar is skeptical that Doha can mediate the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. "These are problems that have been going on for 60 years and are not going to be resolved in a moment," says Abdel Aziz Dawoud.

Egypt, he says, has a "long involvement" in the Israeli-Palestinian story. "Qatar's leadership is smart and active and believes it has a legitimate role to play. Well, that is legitimate. We know our role. Maybe they can be a complimentary force."

Sadiq al-Rikai, Iraq's ambassador to Qatar, suggests looking at the matter in a more positive way. "When nothing seems to be working, why not try something new?" he asks.

In the case of Iraq, Qatar has been supportive of both Sunnis and Shiites and is close to many other players in the Iraq field. All of which has potential, argues Mr. Rikai, to help broker positive change. "The Qataris can be a bridge for all of us. We all respect them. So, why not? "

In January, Qatar, in cooperation with Georgetown's School of Diplomacy, hosted a regional model UN. There was discussion of Iran's nuclear ambitions and an emergency session on the Lebanon crisis. And here, unlike many other model UN programs in the region, Israeli students were invited and Israel was represented amongst the nations in the debates.

Furthermore, moving from make-believe to real life, Roi Rosenblit, head of the Israeli trade mission in Doha, was welcome to observe the student exercises along with the rest of the diplomatic corps. He took the opportunity to talk with Arab youngsters who had never before seen, let alone spoken to, an Israeli.

"You did a great job portraying Venezuela," Mr. Rosenblit complimented a young Kuwaiti named Faris during a model UN buffet dinner.

"Wow! Are you really an Israeli?" responded the teenager. "You don't look like an Israeli."

"It sounds cheesy to say that you can change the world one conversation at a time, but it's sort of true," observed Kendell Brothers, a teacher at Faris's Kuwaiti school and a model UN chaperon.

"Qatar has a special place in being the only country to host an Israeli delegation in the region," Rosenblit explained later. "I would like to see Qatar use this leverage and special position to further the peace process and bring sides together."

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