Bahrain Follows UAE Steps To Normalize Relations With Israel

JAKARTA - Bahrain is following the steps of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to normalize relations with Israel. The move is seen as a form of the two countries having the same attitude in worrying about Iran's attitude. On the other hand, it makes Palestine even more isolated.

Reported by Reuters on Saturday, September 12, President of the United States (US) Donald Trump uploaded the announcement via his Twitter account. According to the White House, Trump spoke by telephone with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu.

"This is a truly historic day," Trump said.

"Opening direct dialogue and relations between these two dynamic societies and developed economies will continue the positive transformation of the Middle East and enhance stability, security and prosperity in the region," citing a joint statement by the US, Bahrain and Israel.

A month ago, the UAE agreed to normalize relations with Israel under a US-brokered deal. The signing of the Israel-UAE agreement is scheduled to take place at the White House on Tuesday September 15.

The ceremony will be attended by Netanyahu and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan. The joint statement said Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani would join the ceremony and sign a "historic Peace Declaration" with Netanyahu. Netanyahu said Bahrain's decision marked a new era of peace.

"Over the long years, we invested in peace, and now peace will invest in us, will result in a really big investment in the Israeli economy," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

The spokesman for the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hend al-Otaiba, congratulated Bahrain and Israel. He said that the agreement was an important and historic achievement that would make a major contribution to stability and prosperity.

Bahrain, a small island nation, is home to the regional headquarters of the US Navy. Saudi Arabia in 2011 sent troops to Bahrain to help quell an insurgency. Meanwhile in 2018, Kuwait and the UAE offered an economic bailout of US $ 10 billion to Bahrain. Bahrain is the fourth Arab country to reach a peace agreement with Israel. Some time ago Egypt and Jordan established good relations with Israel by exchanging embassies.

Palestinians are disillusioned, worried that the move by Bahrain and its fellow Gulf Arab state, the UAE, will undermine the old pan-Arab position that calls for Israel's withdrawal from occupied territory and acceptance of Palestinian statehood in exchange for normal relations with Arab states.

A statement issued on behalf of the Palestinian leadership condemned the agreement as treason. The agreement is also considered to have disrespected the Palestinian struggle for independence for decades.

"The Palestinian leadership rejects the steps taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain and calls on it to immediately withdraw from it because of the immense damage it has caused to the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people and Arab collective action," the statement said.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the Palestinian ambassador to Bahrain was recalled. In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said Bahrain's decision to normalize relations with Israel was a huge loss for the Palestinian cause and support for the Israeli occupation.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, special adviser on international affairs to the head of the Iranian parliament, called Bahrain's decision a grave betrayal of the Islamic and Palestinian cause.

The establishment of ties with Israel takes place against the backdrop of shared fears about the threat Iran might pose to the region. This agreement also leaves the biggest questions; whether Saudi Arabia, one of the most influential countries in the Middle East and a close US ally, will follow in the footsteps of the UAE and Bahrain.