WHILE oppressed Palestinian people continue to suffer day and night at the hands of Israel, there is change of heart in the Arab world towards the Jewish State. It has not happened overnight. Their tacit contacts spanning over years have now started coming to the fore in the form of normalisation of relations.
Bahrain has become the latest Arab nation to agree to normalise ties with Israel as part of a broader diplomatic push by US President Donald Trump and his administration. In a joint statement, the United States, Bahrain and Israel said the agreement was reached after Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Friday. The agreement comes only a month after the United Arab Emirates became the first Gulf Arab country to reach a deal on normalising relations with Israel. Bahrain is the fourth Arab nation to reach such a deal with Israel after Egypt, Jordan and the UAE. For many, the decision by Bahrain has not come as a surprise as it was being anticipated that more Arab countries would follow footsteps of the UAE.
It is yet to be seen in the days ahead as to which Arab country is next in the line but Saudi Arabia undoubtedly has adopted a very principled position on the matter by linking normalisation of relations with the Jewish state after establishment of a viable Palestinian state as per Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Arab League in 2002. The Muslim countries have given a mix reaction on Bahrain’s decision. Iran said Bahrain is now partner to the crimes of Israel. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said it would deal a fresh blow to efforts to defend the Palestinian cause. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi appreciated both Israel and Bahrain for agreeing to establish diplomatic relations. How much hurt are the Palestinians is reflective from the statement of the Palestinian Authority which condemned Bahrain-Israel normalisation deal as another betrayal by an Arab state.
Bahrain and the UAE have always toed the line of Saudi Arabia on important matters and it would have been far better for regional peace and stability had they followed footsteps of the Kingdom. We should refrain from steps that further divide the Muslim Ummah. There is still time for both the countries to review their decision. They should stand with the oppressed and their efforts should be primarily focused towards establishment of an independent Palestine state.
