Qatari Ambassador to the U.S. Strongly Rejects Claims Linking Qatari Funding to Campus Antisemitism

Qatar’s ambassador to the U.S. has pushed back strongly against claims made by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who alleged that Qatari funding is driving antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment among young Americans. Halima Hashmi reports on the diplomatic dispute that highlights ongoing scrutiny of foreign funding in higher education.

Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s ambassador to the U.S., called Huckabee's comments "deeply disappointing" and "inaccurate" in a post on X on Tuesday. Huckabee had stated at a Republican Jewish Coalition event on Monday that billions of dollars are being poured into Middle East studies and propaganda campaigns by entities including the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar to influence young minds.

Sheikh Meshal rejected these allegations, noting that former U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines previously testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that there was no evidence of Qatari support for pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests. Sheikh Meshal emphasized that Qatar has no connection to antisemitism or anti-Israel sentiment on American college campuses.

Addressing financial support for universities, Sheikh Meshal explained that the overwhelming majority of Qatar's funding is dedicated to operating American university campuses in Education City, enabling them to educate students under U.S. academic standards. He clarified that these funds flow through U.S.-based institutions and are not used to influence political discourse on campuses inside the United States.

Qatar’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington, Hamad Al Muftah, also addressed the accusations on X, praising a recent Forbes article detailing the origins of the Qatar Foundation and its transition toward a knowledge-based economy. Al Muftah condemned the allegations as disinformation campaigns intended to make Qatar a scapegoat for broader societal issues like hate speech and Islamophobia.

The ongoing scrutiny follows decisions such as Texas A&M's vote in February 2024 to end its agreement with the Qatar Foundation and wind down its Qatar campus by August 31, 2028, citing regional instability and its primary mission in Texas and the U.S.