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Israel and Bahrain officially signed the normalization agreement between them today, following talks held by a joint Israeli-American delegation in Manama, in the first official visit after the signing of the agreement to normalize relations last month in the United States, while demonstrations were held tonight in Manama, rejecting normalization with Israel.
According to a joint statement between Manama and Tel Aviv, the agreement allows the exchange of ambassadors and embassies, and the two parties have signed commercial cooperation agreements in various fields, in addition to the launch of passenger flights.
The signing was attended by high-ranking officials from the Bahraini and Israeli sides, and the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the crown prince and the prime minister were absent. Bahrain is the second Gulf state to establish diplomatic relations with Israel after the United Arab Emirates, and the fourth Arab country after Jordan in 1994 and Egypt in 1979.
The Israeli delegation was led by Meir Ben Shabat, head of the National Security Council, while the US delegation was led by Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin. “Today is a great day … I hope, God willing, to receive you soon in Israel,” Bin Shabat said upon arrival at Manama airport, speaking in Arabic. The US minister said the delegation’s mission aims to establish expanded economic cooperation between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Direct flight
The Israeli and American delegations arrived in Manama on a direct flight on a plane belonging to the Israeli airline “El” that departed from Ben Gurion airport and crossed Saudi airspace before arriving in Bahrain.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani welcomed the Israeli and American delegations, saying that “the method of treatment and cooperation is the most effective and sustainable way to achieve a real and lasting peace that protects the rights of the peoples of the Middle East “.
Bahraini diplomat Hoda Nono told reporters that her country plans to reopen the old synagogue in Manama to celebrate the Purim holiday on February 25.
Israel and Bahrain signed the “Declaration of Peace, Cooperation and Diplomatic and Friendly Relations” during a private ceremony at the White House on September 15, but this document did not reach the limit of a formal treaty.
The US administration seeks to conclude more normalization agreements with other countries in the Arab region before the presidential elections in the United States, and Minister Mnuchin said he hopes this process will continue no matter who wins the election.
Security cooperation
A report issued by the Israeli Intelligence Ministry on September 13 stated that there are opportunities for defense cooperation with Bahrain, which the report described as threatened by “Shiite political sedition led by Iran and those who work for it.” The French News Agency quoted an Israeli official as saying that security cooperation between Israel and Bahrain is a central issue in today’s upcoming bilateral talks.
Reuters reported, citing a Bahraini source, that his country’s priority will be cooperation with Israel in the field of internet security, after the King of Bahrain issued a decree last week to establish a national center for security. from Internet.
Unlike the Emirates, public opposition to normalization is strong in Bahrain. The Bahrain National Islamic Society Al-Wefaq issued a statement today saying that the agreements between what it described as an authoritarian regime and the Zionists are treason, and that the people of Bahrain will overthrow them.
Protests in the villages and areas of Bahrain, rejecting and denouncing the visit of the Israeli enemy delegation to Bahrain and the announcement of the normalization regime with the usurping entity. pic.twitter.com/wobck1fAG3
– Yusuf al-Jamri (@YusufAlJamri) October 18, 2020
Rejection and manifestations
The association said: “The regime has military personnel in Bahrain and has implemented an undeclared state of emergency that relies on mercenaries and foreigners, to prevent Bahrainis from expressing their rejection of the visit and the relationship in general with the Zionist entity.” And community security. The association claimed that the categorical society rejected everything related to the Zionist entity, and its determination to leave these agreements until the end.
Bahrain’s opposition platforms published videos of the demonstrations that took place tonight, rejecting the visit of the Israeli delegation, during which it announced the start of official diplomatic relations with Bahrain. Participants raised the flags of Palestine and Bahrain, and banners reading “Oh Zionists, get out of our land … Your agreement is void” and “All agreements with the Zionists have fallen … The regime of Bahrain has fallen without popular legitimacy “.
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