Bahrain Normalizes Its Relations With Israel
After the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain has also decided to normalize its relations with Israel. President Donald Trump announced the deal after a triple phone call with Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The leaders of the three countries made a joint statement of six paragraphs regarding the agreement. In the message he shared on Twitter, President Trump used the phrase "historical turning point" for the agreement.
The announcement of Bahrain-Israel relations, which coincided with the 19th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, also coincided with President Trump's signature ceremony at the White House next Tuesday to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
It is stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, as well as Bahrain's foreign minister, will attend the ceremony to be held on September 15 at the White House.
"Historical milestone"
In the joint statement of the US-Bahrain-Israel, “It is a historical turning point in order to further peace in the Middle East. Initiating direct dialogue and relations between these two dynamic societies and the developed economy will continue the positive transformation of the Middle East and increase the stability, security and prosperity of the region ”was used.
In a statement to reporters at the White House, President Trump said, "There can be no stronger response to the hatred that resulted in the September 11 attacks than this deal." "Today is a truly historic day," said Trump, "When I took office, the Middle East was in complete turmoil. Today, things are happening that nobody can imagine. "As more countries normalize their relations with Israel, stability and prosperity will increase in the region," he said.
Trump stated that there may be "positive" developments regarding Iran and Palestine.
After the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain's decision to normalize its relations with Israel, with the mediation of the United States, was another important diplomatic success for Trump, less than two months before the presidential elections. Trump also announced last week that they reached an agreement in principle for Kosovo to recognize Israel and Serbia to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Eyes on Saudi Arabia
The Trump administration is trying to persuade other Sunni Arab countries to engage with Israel. Now the most curious question is whether Saudi Arabia, one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East, will follow the path of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Riyadh signaled that it is not ready to take such a step in its stance so far.
Like the agreement with the United Arab Emirates, the Bahrain-Israel agreement foresees the normalization of relations between the two countries in various fields, especially diplomatic and commercial relations and security.
Bahrain announced last week that it would allow the use of airspace for flights between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Just prior to this, Saudi Arabia had announced that an Israeli commercial plane could use its airspace during its flight to the United Arab Emirates.
Video message from Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the agreement to normalize relations with Bahrain marks a "new era of peace". Posting a video message about the deal, Netanyahu said, “We have invested in peace for many years and now peace invests in us. "It will bring real large-scale investments to the Israeli economy and this is very important."
Thanks to US President Trump, Netanyahu, referring to the 1994 peace agreement with Jordan, said, "26 years have passed between the second and third peace agreement with an Arab country. Between the third and fourth peace agreements, there are only 29 days. "will continue" he said.
The first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel was Egypt in 1979.
Palestinian official: "This step is a betrayal against the Palestinians"
Palestinian leaders who called on Arab countries to refrain from recognizing Israel until an independent Palestinian state was established, reacted to the agreement. "This is another move that hits the Palestinian people and their rights. It is a betrayal against Jerusalem and the Palestinians. There is absolutely no justification for the free normalization of relations with Israel," said Wasel Abu Yusef, senior Palestinian official.
Turkey has condemned the decision of Bahrain
Bahrain Turkey's relations with Israel also condemned the decision normalization. In the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "We are worried and strongly condemn the decision of Bahrain to pursue the United Arab Emirates and establish diplomatic relations with Israel contrary to the commitments under the Arab Peace Initiative and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation".
The statement said:
"This step will strike a new blow to the efforts to defend the Palestinian cause and further encourage Israel to continue its illegitimate practices towards Palestine and its attempts to make the occupation in Palestinian land permanent. It is subject to a fair and comprehensive solution within the framework of international law and UN resolutions. Irresponsible compromises made with concerns of narrow interests as a result of the pressure and coercion of non-regional actors cannot eliminate or replace this reality. "
United Arab Emirates: "The decision will contribute to regional stability and prosperity"
The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement congratulating Bahrain and Israel for their decision. Ministry spokesperson Hend El-Uteybe stated on Twitter that this decision will contribute to regional stability and prosperity.
According to the Bahrain official news agency BNA, the Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its satisfaction with the agreement, and the King of Bahrain, El Khalifa, praised the US efforts for security and peace in the Middle East.
Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmad al-Khalifa, one of the king's well-known advisors and long-time foreign minister, said on Twitter that the agreement strengthened the security and prosperity of the region. "This agreement sends a positive and encouraging message to the people of Israel that a just and comprehensive peace with the Palestinian people is the best way, and that it is in their real interest and the peoples of the region," wrote Al-Khalifa.
BNA also stated that in the phone call of the King of Bahrain with Trump and Netanyahu, it reiterated the necessity of reaching a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine based on a two-state solution.
In the joint statement, it was emphasized that the parties will continue their efforts "to find a fair, comprehensive and permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to ensure that the Palestinian people reach their full potential".
England
British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab described the Israel-Bahrain deal as "excellent news".
Egyptian President Abdulfettah El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for the "important step" Israel and Bahrain have taken towards establishing diplomatic relations.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that the necessary steps for a just and comprehensive peace in the region should come from Israel. After the normalization of Israel-Bahrain relations, Safadi said that Israel "must end all procedures that would undermine the two-state solution and end the illegal occupation of Palestinian land".
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