Bahrain–Israel relations
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The relations between Bahrain and Israel refers to the current and historical relations between Bahrain and Israel. Relations are generally tense and the two states do not have diplomatic and economic relations. Like most Arab states, Bahrain does not recognize Israel and traditionally supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state. A brief period of warming in relations occurred in the mid-1990s.
History
The first ever official Israeli delegation to visit Bahrain was in late September 1994.[1] and in the following month the Israeli Minister of Environment Yossi Sarid attended multilateral regional talks on environmental issues held in Manama. During his visit Sarid met the Bahraini foreign minister, marking the first contact at ministerial level between Bahrain and Israel.[2] Bahrain declined to send representative to the funeral of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and denied that there had been any contacts between the Bahraini Minister of Commerce and his Israeli counterpart at the Middle East and North Africa Economic summit conducted in Jordan the previous month. In 1999, allegations of secret diplomatic and commercial contacts were also promptly denied by Manama.[3]
In October 2007, Bahrain Foreign Minister Khalid Alkhalifa held a meeting with the American Jewish Committee where he said "Palestinian refugees should return to Palestine". In the same month during the General Assembly of the UN, he met with then-Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni drawing heavy criticism from the Bahraini parliament.[4]
On July 18, 2009 Bahraini prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa announced in an op-ed piece in the Washington Post that Arabs and Israelis must put their differences aside and engage in constructive dialogue. His Highness recognized that the Israeli public is reluctant to accept a peace agreement because they view Arabs negatively. As a result, he calls on Arabs to reach out to Israelis through their media outlets, in order to present Arabs as willing partners in any upcoming peace-talks. The article was heavily criticized, said U.S. ambassador to Bahrain.[4]
On October 2009 the Bahraini Parliament voted on a bill forbidding Bahrain's relations with Israel at all levels - government, business or private. Ties would also include fines of up to BD10,000 and businessmen dealing with Israel, selling or promoting its products would lose their licenses for up to 10 years. The law would also resurrect the Israeli Boycott Office, closed to make way for the Free Trade Agreement with the US. The bill also banned the government by law from setting up any diplomatic mission in Israel.[5]
Wikileaks
In 2011, amid Arab spring uprising, Wikileaks cables published on Haaretz revealed some of the hidden relations between Bahraini and Israeli officials. In a meeting with the U.S. ambassador on February 2005, Bahrain's king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had bragged about having contact with Israel's national intelligence agency, Mossad. He indicated that Bahrain is ready to develop relations in other fields as well. The king reportedly gave orders that official statements don't use phrases such as "enemy" and "Zionist entity" when referring to Israel anymore. However, he refused the idea of having trade relations, saying it was "too early" and would be postponed until the establishment of an independent Palestine state.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ The Middle East and North Africa, Europa Publications Limited
- ↑ Brink of Peace, Itamar Rabinovich
- ↑ Bahrain Foreign Policy and Government Guide (Russian Regional Investment and Business Library) by IBP USA
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Barak Ravid (20 February 2011). "WikiLeaks: Bahrain FM planned to meet Israeli officials in support of peace process". Haaretz. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ↑ Bahrain: MPs ban Israel links
- ↑ Yossi Melman (8 April 2011). "Haaretz Wikileaks exclusive / Bahrain King boasted of intelligence ties with Israel". Haaretz. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
External links
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