Bahrain signs bilateral cooperation agreement with Israel after the UAE -

Washington: US President Donald Trump stated that after the United Arab Emirates (UAE), now Bahrain had also announced of improving its relations with Israel. He informed about the bilateral cooperation between Israel and Bahrain. Also, President Trump expressed confidence and said that it was a historic day for peace in the Middle East and that other Arab nations would also take a similar decision. Bahrain is the fourth nation to establish bilateral cooperation with Israel. The UAE established the bilateral deal with Israel 29 days ago. While Bahrain’s decision is being welcomed worldwide, Palestine, Iran and Turkey have condemned the move terming it as ‘a stab in the back’ for Palestine.

US President Donald Trump had a telephonic discussion on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. After the discussion, President Trump released a joint statement and announced the bilateral cooperation between Israel and Bahrain. The statement mentioned that the event was historic for establishing peace in the Middle East, and the bilateral relationship will result in a positive transformation of the region. This bilateral cooperation is an essential step towards peace, stability and security in the Middle East. It is claimed that this cooperation will help normalise commercial, security and other relations between both nations.

Last month, Israel and UAE established bilateral ties. Therefore, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be present for signing the related pact in the United States on Tuesday. During this time, Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani will also sign the agreement with Israel. A few days back, Bahrain had opened its airspace for Israeli planes. The US media believes that after Bahrain, Oman may also establish bilateral cooperation with Israel. However, reactions from all levels are emerging over the normalisation of ties UAE and Bahrain’s relations with Israel.

The UK, Australia, UAE, Egypt and Jordan have welcomed this pact. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has avoided giving any reactions over the deal. Nevertheless, Middle Eastern analysts are claiming that Bahrain could not take such a step without Saudi’s permission. It is being said that Bahrain, which has struck a deal with Israel like UAE, is being secretly backed by Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, as the Arab countries, one after the other, are improving relations with Israel, Fatah and Hamas in Palestine have expressed anger over the same. The Palestinian government has alleged that Bahrain has backstabbed Palestine with this bilateral cooperation. Also, Hamas claimed that this bilateral cooperation is an attack against Palestine, because of which, the Palestinian cause might receive a blow.

Iran has accused Bahrain of becoming a partner in crime with Israel by signing this pact. Iranian foreign minister accused Bahrain of great betrayal by signing the bilateral deal. Turkey too has reprimanded this bilateral cooperation between Israel and Bahrain. The country has charged that Bahrain’s act of joining hands with Israel had caused a big blow to the campaign for an independent Palestine. At the same time, the Turkish Foreign Minister claimed that due to this treaty, Israel’s control over Palestine would now become permanent. Iran and Turkey had criticised the bilateral cooperation between the UAE and Israel in the past as well.