On Wednesday, Bahrain’s Crown Prince Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in which the formed reaffirmed Bahrain’s dedication to a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Bahrain’s continuous support for a Palestinian state mounts a challenge to the reason behind Pompeo’s trip, which is pushing countries in the region to normalize ties with Israel.
Israel and the Arab world have long been at odds due to the tension and violence between Palestine and the Jewish state.
In the meeting with Pompeo, Isa Al-Khalifa highlighted the importance of Bahrain-US relations. He referred to the two countries’ partnership and shared interests, according to Bahrain News Agency.
UAE-Israel Deal
The meeting follows the US-brokered landmark deal that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will fully normalize ties with Israel. The two countries agreed to cooperate and set a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship.
The agreement was announced on a three-way phone call between Donald Trump and Israeli and UAE leaders. The accord, if carried out successfully, would lead to greater cooperation on investment, tourism, security, technology and would allow for direct flights between Israel and UAE, along with open embassies and trade ambassadors.
The agreement, called the Abraham Accord, did not come without criticism. Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s executive committee, claimed that the UAE’s announcement was equivalent to being “sold out” by “friends.”
If the UAE will indeed normalize ties with Israel, it will become the third Arab country to have full diplomatic relations with Jeruzalem, following Jordan and Egypt.