Qatar rallies global opposition against Israel – Weekend

Russia’s attack on NATO territory and Israel’s strike on Qatar have triggered wide-ranging debates among world powers. Tensions around these developments remain at a peak.

Unexpectedly, the Nepalese children who had once risen in protest have calmed down. They chose their own representative and successfully handed over authority to the government.

Donald Trump’s nightmare has re-emerged. Zohran Mamdani, expected to become New York’s first Muslim mayor, is far ahead of his rivals. Moreover, if he wins, he has pledged to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This week, the suspect in what could become the “murder of the year” was detained. A 22-year-old man is accused of killing Charlie Kirk.

For more details on these and other global events of the week, follow QALAMPIR.UZ’s Weekend program.

New York’s next mayor vows to arrest Netanyahu

Zohran Mamdani, who has already gained significant popularity in U.S. politics, has returned to the spotlight. A socialist by political values and principles, the young politician has drawn international attention due to his strong chance of being elected mayor of New York. His prominence largely rests on two points: that he is a Muslim, and that he has vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he come to New York as mayor. Mamdani repeated this campaign pledge again this week.

Interestingly, he is now closer than ever to becoming New York’s next mayor. Recent polls show Mamdani’s chances rated very high. According to surveys conducted by The New York Times, he leads a field of four candidates and has pulled far ahead of his closest rival, Andrew Cuomo.

For example, 46 percent of respondents said they would vote for Mamdani, compared to only 24 percent for Cuomo. Another candidate, Curtis Sliwa, holds 15 percent, while Eric Adams—suspected of ties with Uzbek businessmen—lags far behind at just 5 percent. Of course, these are only preliminary polls. Yet Mamdani’s clear advantage has further fueled speculation that he could indeed become New York’s next mayor.

Looking more closely at Zohran Mamdani, the clear favorite in the race, he is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. His parents are Indian Muslims, and he was born in Kampala, Uganda, later becoming a U.S. citizen in 2018. Mamdani is a Shia Muslim. He studied at Bowdoin College in Maine, where he founded the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. He graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in African Studies. Now positioned to potentially become New York’s first Muslim mayor, Mamdani has long stated that, if elected, he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested.

Of course, if the so-called “Butcher of Gaza” were to visit New York, Mamdani would theoretically have a partial legal basis to pursue this. In practice, however, it appears nearly impossible. The U.S. has not ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which issued the arrest warrant for Netanyahu, and thus bears no obligation at the federal level to enforce it. Moreover, American media reports that arresting Netanyahu would amount to a violation of federal law. Still, Mamdani’s promise is expected to provoke a strong reaction in New York and could significantly boost his popularity.

Nepali rebel children find their leader

After the children’s revolution in Nepal, the younger generation delivered a major lesson to the country’s government. From school students to youth mostly under the age of 25, they vented their long-held anger. Parliament and ministry buildings were seized, burned, and damaged. In total, 51 people were killed and more than 1,300 were injured in the demonstrations. From the Prime Minister down to the President, top officials were forced to bow to the demands of the youth. Initially, the lack of a clear leader made it uncertain with whom the government should negotiate. During this time, Nepal’s government was overthrown. The Prime Minister and several ministers resigned and were evacuated by helicopter. Amid the crisis, former Prime Minister Sharma Oli, the Interior Minister, and two other officials managed to flee the enraged youth.

The situation spiraled out of control, but soon the young protesters calmed down. They concluded the unrest by installing their preferred figure to lead the government. Former Supreme Court judge Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister. President Ram Chandra Paudel named the 73-year-old to the post, and Karki took the oath of office on September 12, becoming Nepal’s first female prime minister. Her candidacy was put forward by the leaders of the youth demonstrations, as she is well-known for her fight against corruption—the main grievance of Generation Z protesters. Karki is now expected to lead the Cabinet until the next elections, likely to be held in March 2026. Before her appointment, other names floated for the post included a rap star and a former television journalist. In the end, however, the young demonstrators chose Judge Sushila Karki.

Kirk’s widow vows to carry on his mission

The shooting death of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, promoter of traditional values, supporter of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, drew global attention this week. Within 33 hours, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested on suspicion of the killing. Investigators found that the rifle and ammunition at the scene bore anti-fascist inscriptions. Shell casings from the weapon, reportedly abandoned by Robinson in a nearby forest, were marked with the words “O Bella Ciao,” referencing the Italian anti-fascist song. One of Robinson’s relatives told investigators that in recent years he had become increasingly politicized, particularly opposing Kirk.

According to Utah Governor Spencer Cox, on the night of September 11, one of Robinson’s relatives confided in a family friend, who then informed the Washington County sheriff. Robinson had “either confessed to the crime or strongly hinted at it.” Another relative told investigators that during a recent family dinner Robinson discussed an upcoming Kirk event in Utah Valley, explained why he disliked him, and debated Kirk’s views. Robinson grew up in Washington, Utah, and graduated from Pine View High School in St. George in 2021. He won a scholarship to Utah State University for his strong academic performance in high school but dropped out after one semester. Photos on social media show Robinson wearing gray Converse shoes and glasses—similar to those in police images of the suspect.

Kirk’s death was undoubtedly significant, as he was widely known as a divisive figure. Defining him in one word was difficult: on the one hand, he championed human values, including the importance of family, but on the other, he openly supported what critics call Israel’s genocide in Gaza. He was an ultra-pro-Israel figure who even opposed the existence of Palestine. Now, his widow, Erika Kirk, has vowed to continue his mission. On September 12, standing beside her late husband’s chair, she declared that “Charlie’s work will not die, and I will not allow it to.” Erika added that those responsible for his death “cannot imagine the fire they have lit in the heart of a widow.”

Kirk’s widow also expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President James David Vance, and all supporters who had “shown care” to her husband.

As for Erika Kirk herself, she is an entrepreneur and winner of the Miss Arizona USA pageant, currently pursuing a doctorate in Biblical studies. She met Charlie in 2018, and they had a son and a daughter together. Reports indicate that Erika and her one-year-old son and three-year-old daughter were among the audience at the time her husband was shot.

Qatar brings everyone together

Following Israel’s attack on Doha, Qatar convened an emergency summit of Arab and Islamic countries on September 11. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari, adviser to the Qatari Prime Minister, confirmed that condemning Israel’s actions would be the central item on the agenda. Organizing the summit in such a short time is seen as a demonstration of solidarity between Qatar and the wider Arab and Islamic world amid recent tragic events. The summit in Doha is expected to adopt a resolution strongly condemning Israel’s recent airstrikes on Qatari territory. In addition, participating states intend to introduce a document calling for an end to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and for the restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel on the eve of the Arab-Islamic summit. His visit, coinciding with Eastern states’ declarations of solidarity with Qatar, may symbolize Washington’s continued support for Israel.

According to reports, heads of state are also expected to attend the Arab-Islamic summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s presence in Doha could ensure the meeting is conducted in a serious tone. The leaders of Iran and Iraq have also confirmed their participation on September 15. On the first day of the summit, foreign ministers will hold talks, while on the second day, heads of state are expected to discuss ways to put an end to Israel’s crimes in the Middle East.

Before this, Qatar itself reportedly discussed the issue with the United States. On September 12, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. While the details of the meeting remain unclear, discussions likely included Israel’s strike on Doha as well as negotiations on halting military operations in the Gaza Strip.

At present, many Arab states and Muslim-majority countries near the region remain concerned about Israel’s next moves. After striking Doha, Netanyahu also threatened other countries hosting Hamas leaders. Egypt subsequently warned Israel that if a similar attack were carried out against Cairo, it would respond in kind against Tel Aviv. Qatar, meanwhile, is already in close contact with its allies and key partners. Officials in Doha are reportedly considering various response measures against Israel. The arrival of senior Iranian officials in Qatar is also an unwelcome development for Israel. Thus, the Arab and Islamic summit—including Persians and Turks—appears, at first glance, poised to deliver a practical response to Israel. However, there is also a strong likelihood that this extraordinary gathering will end with little more than condemnatory resolutions and political statements on paper.

NATO and Russia on the brink of war

After a Russian drone recently entered Polish airspace, NATO has decided to launch a new operation to strengthen defenses on its eastern flank. The operation, called “Eastern Guardian,” will involve Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other nations. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Russia’s drone strikes were “dangerous and unacceptable,” adding that this was not an isolated incident and that Moscow continues to disregard NATO’s eastern borders.

According to NATO’s Supreme Commander in Europe, U.S. General Alexus Grinkevich, the operation will be “flexible and rapid,” featuring enhanced capabilities, integration of air and ground defense systems, and increased intelligence-sharing among allies. Grinkevich noted that while full implementation will take time, initial steps will begin “immediately.”

NATO reported that equipment allocated for the operation includes two F-16 fighter jets and a defense frigate from Denmark, three Rafale jets from France, and four Eurofighters from Germany.

This initiative builds on the “Baltic Guardian” operation, which NATO launched earlier this year in response to sabotage of Baltic Sea cables. According to Grinkevich, the new operation will cover NATO’s entire eastern flank, “from the far north to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.” At the same time, NATO has urged member states on its eastern border—including Poland and the Baltic states—to remain calm.

International reactions, however, have varied. Around 40 countries condemned Russia’s drone incursion, while Trump suggested the flight may have been accidental. Poland quickly rejected this claim. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the entry of Russian drones into Polish territory an “attack,” insisting it was no mistake. Marcin Pszidic, head of the Polish president’s foreign policy office, told local media that at least 21 drones had been launched toward Poland on September 10, though not all were recovered. He added that some drones may have crossed Polish airspace and then returned.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the alliance is still assessing the events of September 10. He stressed that “whether deliberate or not, Russia violated NATO airspace,” and that the “Eastern Guardian” operation is intended to show NATO’s readiness to defend its territory. While Article 5 of the alliance has not yet been triggered, Article 4—consultations in the face of a potential external threat—is already in effect. How events unfold remains to be seen. It is a tense process: whether by air, sea, or land, Russia cannot repeatedly breach NATO’s borders without risking outright war.