Bahrain-Israel Relations: Normalization And Recognition

On September 11, 2020, Bahrain agreed to normalize relations with Israel, becoming the latest Arab nation to do so. This agreement, known as the Bahrain-Israel normalization agreement, or the Abraham Accords, was part of a broader diplomatic push by the Trump administration to ease the Jewish state's isolation in the Middle East and find common ground with nations that share US wariness of Iran. The agreement was signed on September 15, 2020, at the White House, and made Bahrain the fourth Arab country to recognize Israel, after Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Bahrain-Israel relations have existed since 1971

Bahrain and Israel have had relations since Bahrain gained independence from British rule in 1971. However, these relations have been tense over the years, with Bahrain joining the Arab League boycott of Israel.

In 1991, Bahrain sent representatives to the Madrid Conference, and in late September 1994, the first official Israeli delegation visited Bahrain. Trade missions were opened in both countries' capitals after the Oslo I Accord, but these were closed after the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000.

In 2005, Bahrain abandoned its boycott of Israel in exchange for a free trade agreement with the United States. In September 2017, the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, denounced the Arab League boycott, stating that citizens were entitled to visit Israel.

In 2016, a video of a ceremony marking the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, hosted by Bahrain, went viral. This led to the King of Bahrain denouncing the Arab League boycott once again in 2017 and beginning to normalize relations with Israel.

In May 2018, Bahrain recognized Israel's right to exist and supported its right to defend itself during the Israel-Iran incident in Syria. In 2019, Bahrain hosted the "Peace to Prosperity" workshop, where the Trump administration presented its economic peace plan. In July of the same year, the Foreign Ministers of both countries met in the United States, and in October, an Israeli official attended the "Working Group on Maritime and Aviation Security" in Bahrain.

In September 2020, Bahrain and Israel agreed to establish full diplomatic relations, with the agreement being signed at the White House in Washington, D.C., on September 15. This agreement, known as the Abraham Accords, normalized diplomatic relations and allowed for the exchange of ambassadors and the opening of embassies.

Despite the agreement, Bahrain's decision to normalize relations with Israel was met with opposition from various segments of Bahraini society, including elected members of parliament, political associations, civil society organizations, and the political opposition. Protests and demonstrations were held, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and demanding the rescinding of normalization agreements.

In March 2021, Bahrain appointed its first ambassador to Israel, and in September 2021, Israel opened a resident embassy in Manama. However, in November 2023, amid the Israel-Hamas war, Bahrain suspended all economic relations with Israel, recalling its ambassador and requesting the Israeli ambassador to leave the country.

Bahrain abandoned its boycott of Israel in 2005

In September 2005, Bahrain's then-finance minister Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa affirmed the country's commitment to withdrawing its primary boycott against Israel. He stated: “Bahrain recognizes the need to withdraw the primary boycott against Israel and is developing the means to achieve this.”

This decision by Bahrain to withdraw its boycott of Israel was not an isolated incident but was part of a broader trend among Arab Gulf states at the time. Bahrain and five other Arab Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), had already stopped enforcing secondary and tertiary boycotts of Israel as early as September 1994, although they continued to avoid direct contacts with the Jewish state.

The issue of the Arab League boycott of Israel had been raised several times during the negotiations leading up to the signing of the US-Bahrain free trade agreement. In June 2003, at a press conference, Bahrain's Abdullah Saif, asserted that his country was a member of the World Trade Organization, which bans all forms of economic boycotts. He further stated that the Arab League boycott of Israel would become "totally irrelevant" due to the Israel-Palestinian peace process.

Bahrain's decision to abandon the boycott of Israel in 2005 was a significant step towards normalizing relations between the two countries. However, it would be another 15 years before Bahrain and Israel formally established full diplomatic relations in September 2020.

The normalisation agreement was signed in 2020

The normalisation agreement between Bahrain and Israel, officially known as the Abraham Accords: Declaration of Peace, Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations, was signed on September 15, 2020, at the White House in Washington, D.C. The agreement was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on September 11, 2020, and followed a joint statement by the United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 13, 2020.

The signing ceremony was a significant event, marking the normalisation of relations between the two countries and making Bahrain the fourth Arab state to recognise Israel. The agreement included the recognition of each state's sovereignty and the establishment of diplomatic relations, with plans to open embassies and exchange ambassadors. Additionally, it allowed for the establishment of direct flights between Tel Aviv and Manama.

The normalisation agreement was the culmination of a series of steps taken by Bahrain and Israel to improve their relationship. In 2005, Bahrain abandoned its boycott of Israel in exchange for a free trade agreement with the United States. In 2017, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain denounced the Arab League boycott of Israel, stating that his citizens were entitled to visit Israel. Bahrain and Israel also participated in joint events and conferences, such as the "Peace to Prosperity" workshop hosted by Bahrain in 2019, and their foreign ministers met in the United States in the same year.

The agreement was praised by several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Latvia, Oman, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay. They viewed it as a positive step towards peace, stability, and security in the Middle East.

However, the normalisation agreement was met with criticism from some quarters. The Palestinian leadership denounced the agreement as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and recalled its ambassador from Bahrain. Iran also strongly condemned the deal, with an adviser to the speaker of Iran's parliament calling it a "great betrayal to the Islamic cause and Palestinians."

Bahrain is the fourth Arab country to recognise Israel

Bahrain has become the fourth Arab country to recognise Israel, following Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The agreement to normalise relations was announced by US President Donald Trump on 11 September 2020, with a formal signing taking place at the White House on 15 September.

The agreement, officially titled the 'Abraham Accords: Declaration of Peace, Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations', was the second such agreement between Israel and an Arab state in the space of a month. The first was the Israel-United Arab Emirates Peace Agreement, which was also brokered by the Trump administration.

The normalisation of ties between Israel and Bahrain has been years in the making. Bahrain abandoned its boycott of Israel in 2005, in exchange for a free trade agreement with the US. In 2017, the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, denounced the Arab League boycott of Israel, saying that his citizens were entitled to visit Israel. In 2018, Bahrain recognised Israel's right to exist and expressed support for Israel's "right to defend itself" against Iran. In 2019, the two countries' foreign ministers met in the US, and an Israeli official attended a security meeting in Manama, Bahrain.

The agreement to establish full diplomatic relations was marked by a joint statement from Trump, Netanyahu and King Hamad, which described the agreement as "a historic breakthrough to further peace in the Middle East". The statement also emphasised the importance of "opening direct dialogue and ties between these two dynamic societies and advanced economies", and pledged to continue efforts to achieve a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The agreement was welcomed by the Bahraini foreign ministry, with adviser to the king, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, writing on Twitter that it "sends a positive and encouraging message to the people of Israel, that a just and comprehensive peace with the Palestinian people is the best path and the true interest for their future and the future of the peoples of the region".

However, the normalisation of relations was criticised by Palestinian leaders, who have urged Arab nations to withhold recognition of Israel until they have secured an independent state. Wasel Abu Yousef, a senior Palestinian official, called the agreement "another stab in the back of the Palestinian cause, the Palestinian people and their rights".

The agreement was part of a broader diplomatic push by the Trump administration

The agreement between Bahrain and Israel was part of a broader diplomatic push by the Trump administration to normalise relations between Israel and other Arab countries.

In 2020, the Trump administration brokered two back-to-back peace treaties between Israel and two Arab nations: the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The agreements were officially called the Abraham Accords: Declaration of Peace, Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations.

The agreements were announced by President Trump on September 11, 2020, and were formally signed at the White House on September 15, 2020. The Abraham Accords were preceded by a joint statement by the United States, Israel, and the UAE on August 13, 2020, which normalised relations between the UAE and Israel.

The agreements marked a significant shift in the dynamics of the Middle East, as Arab countries have historically been hostile towards Israel due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the common threat of Iran's growing influence in the region provided an opportunity for the Trump administration to pursue normalisation of relations between Israel and other Arab states.

The agreements included provisions for the opening of embassies, the establishment of diplomatic and economic ties, and cooperation in various sectors such as technology, health, and agriculture. The normalisation of relations between Israel and Bahrain was a significant development, as Bahrain became the fourth Arab state to recognise Israel and the second within a month, following the UAE.

The Trump administration's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict differed from that of previous US administrations. While the normalisation agreements did not directly address the Palestinian issue, they included a call for a "just, comprehensive, and enduring resolution" of the conflict. The administration's strategy was to pursue normalisation between Israel and other Arab countries, rather than focusing solely on progress with the Palestinians.

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