Bahrain joined the United Arab Emirates in agreeing to normalize ties with Israel whereas Palestine and Iran rejected it. Bahrain’s move could leave the Palestinians further isolated.
US President Donald Trump posted the announcement on Twitter. Moreover, he spoke by phone to Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This is truly a historic day,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Trump said he believed other countries would follow suit.
“Opening direct dialogue and ties between these two dynamic societies. Advanced economies will continue the positive transformation of the Middle East. They will increase stability, security, and prosperity in the region,” the US, Bahrain, and Israel said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, Palestinians were dismayed, fearing the moves by Bahrain and UAE will weaken their cause. This position calls for Israeli retreat from occupied territory and acceptance of Palestinian statehood.
The UAE recently normalized ties with Israel under a US-brokered deal. Moreover, the deal is scheduled to be signed at a White House ceremony next week.
Netanyahu and Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan will attend the event. Emirati FM will sign a “historic Declaration of Peace” with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu said Bahrain’s decision marks a “new era of peace.”
Bahrain, a small island state, is home to the US Navy’s regional headquarters. Meanwhile, Bahrain is the fourth Arab country to reach an agreement with Israel. Moreover, Israel has embassies in Egypt and Jordan decades ago.
The Palestinian leadership condemns the agreement
Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership also denounced the agreement as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.
“The Palestinian leadership rejects this step taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain. It calls on it to withdraw from it due to the harm it causes to the national rights of the Palestinians and joint Arab action.”
Meanwhile, Hamas said Bahrain’s decision “represents serious harm to the Palestinian cause.”
Iran calls Bahrain’s move shameful:
Iran has described Bahrain’s move to normalize ties with Israel as shameful, Palestine also rejects it.
“The rulers of Bahrain will from now on be complicit in the crimes of the Zionist regime. This regime is a threat to the security of the region and the Muslim world.”
When the UAE normalized its ties with Israel, the Muslim world had rejected it. Both Pakistan and Turkey also bashed the move. Many Pakistanis sent the message to the UAE after it recognized Israel, that their green passport is not for sale‘.
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