Bahrain And Israel: Neighbors In The Middle East

Bahrain and Israel have had a complex relationship since Bahrain gained independence from British rule in 1971. Bahrain is an island country in West Asia situated on the Persian Gulf, between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Israel, on the other hand, is located along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. The two countries are separated by over 1,500 kilometres of land and sea. Despite the distance, Bahrain and Israel have had a tumultuous relationship, with Bahrain joining the Arab League boycott of Israel after gaining independence. However, in recent years, there has been a thawing of relations, with both countries agreeing to establish diplomatic ties in 2020. This normalisation of relations was facilitated by the United States and resulted in the opening of embassies in each country's capital.

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia, situated in the Persian Gulf

Bahrain has a rich history, dating back to the ancient Dilmun civilization. It was also one of the earliest regions to embrace Islam during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad in 628 AD. Over the centuries, Bahrain has been ruled by various empires, including the Portuguese Empire and Safavid Iran, before gaining independence from British rule in 1971.

The country has a diverse economy, thanks to its investment in the banking and tourism sectors, in addition to its oil wealth. Bahrain is known for its modern Arab culture and archaeological sites, such as Qalat Al Bahrain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In recent years, Bahrain has made efforts to normalize relations with Israel, signing the Abraham Accords in 2020. However, the relationship between the two countries has experienced challenges due to the conflict in Gaza, with Bahrain recalling its ambassador to Israel in 2023.

Israel and Bahrain have had formal diplomatic relations since 2020

Bahrain and Israel have had relations since Bahrain's independence in 1971. However, the two countries only established formal diplomatic relations in 2020, signing the Abraham Accords: Declaration of Peace, Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations.

Bahrain is located in the Middle East, in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia and north of Qatar. Israel is located in the Middle East, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Bahrain and Israel are separated by around 1,500 miles.

The normalisation of relations between Bahrain and Israel was announced by US President Donald Trump on 11 September 2020, following a joint statement by the US, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 13 August 2020. The agreement was formally signed on 15 September 2020 at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The agreement was the result of years of improving relations between the two countries. In 2005, Bahrain abandoned its boycott of Israel in exchange for a free trade agreement with the US. In 2017, the King of Bahrain denounced the Arab League boycott of Israel, stating that citizens were entitled to visit Israel. In 2018, Bahrain recognised Israel's right to exist and expressed support for Israel's stance against Iran. In 2019, Bahrain hosted an economic peace workshop with Israel and the two countries' foreign ministers met in the US.

The agreement to establish full diplomatic relations was met with mixed reactions internationally. Several countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the UK, welcomed the normalisation of relations as a step towards peace and stability in the Middle East. However, the agreement was denounced by Palestine, Turkey, and Iran, among others, as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.

As part of the agreement, the two countries exchanged ambassadors and opened embassies in each country. They also agreed to cooperate in various fields, including technology, health, and agriculture. Flights between Tel Aviv and Manama were also established.

Despite the establishment of diplomatic relations, tensions remained. In November 2023, Bahrain recalled its ambassador to Israel and suspended all economic relations, citing its support for the Palestinian cause.

The two countries agreed to establish ties as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords

Bahrain and Israel are geographically close, with Bahrain located to the east of Saudi Arabia and Israel located to the north of Egypt. Both countries are in the Middle East and share a border with Jordan.

On September 15, 2020, the two countries agreed to establish full diplomatic relations as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords. The agreement was signed at the White House in Washington, D.C., and made Bahrain the fourth Arab state to recognize Israel. The Abraham Accords are bilateral agreements on Arab–Israeli normalization, aiming to establish diplomatic and friendly relations between the two countries.

The agreement was the result of a process that began in 2017 when the King of Bahrain denounced the Arab League boycott of Israel, stating that his citizens were entitled to visit Israel despite the absence of diplomatic relations. In 2018, Bahrain recognized Israel's right to exist, and in 2019, the foreign ministers of both countries met in the United States.

The Abraham Accords were mediated by the United States, with an initial announcement made on August 13, 2020, regarding an agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This was followed by the announcement of an agreement between Israel and Bahrain on September 11, 2020. As part of the agreement, Bahrain recognized Israel's sovereignty, enabling the establishment of full diplomatic relations.

The Abraham Accords have been praised for promoting peace, cooperation, and dialogue in the region, as well as advancing cultural exchange and people-to-people ties. However, they have also faced criticism, particularly from citizens of Arab states, for failing to resolve the Palestinian conflict.

Despite the establishment of diplomatic relations, tensions remain between Bahrain and Israel. In November 2023, Bahrain recalled its ambassador to Israel and suspended economic relations due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Nonetheless, Israel has stated that its relations with Bahrain remain stable.

Bahrain is the fourth Arab country to recognise Israel since its founding in 1948

Bahrain is located in the Persian Gulf region, just off the coast of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, covering only about 760 square kilometres (290 square miles). Bahrain's location has made it a trading hub and a naval defensive position.

In September 2020, Bahrain became the fourth Arab country to recognise Israel since Israel's founding in 1948. The agreement to normalise relations between the two countries was formally announced by US President Donald Trump and followed a joint statement by the US, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August 2020. The normalisation agreement, officially called the Abraham Accords, was signed at the White House in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 2020.

The agreement established full diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Israel, with the two countries agreeing to open embassies in each other's capitals. Bahrain became the fourth Arab state to recognise Israel, following Egypt in 1979, Jordan in 1994, and the UAE in 2020. The Palestinian National Authority also recognised Israel in 1993.

The normalisation of relations between Bahrain and Israel was part of a broader diplomatic push by the Trump administration to integrate Israel into the Middle East and find common ground against Iran. Bahrain and Israel shared concerns about Iran's growing influence in the region, which led to unofficial contacts in the past. The agreement was also seen as a setback for Palestinian leaders, who have urged Arab nations to withhold recognition until an independent Palestinian state is secured.

Despite the normalisation of relations, Bahrain continues to support the creation of an independent Palestinian state. In a nod to the Palestinians, the joint statement by Trump, Netanyahu, and King Hamad mentioned continuing efforts to achieve a "just, comprehensive, and enduring resolution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The normalisation of relations has been criticised by Palestine as a betrayal of Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause

Bahrain and Israel have had relations since Bahrain's independence in 1971. In September 2020, the two countries agreed to establish full diplomatic relations, making Bahrain the fourth Arab country to recognise Israel.

The normalisation agreement was not received well by the Bahraini public either. The decision was met with outrage on social media and through demonstrations across the country. The Bahraini Society Against Normalization with the Zionist Enemy, founded in 2002, is one of the groups that has rejected the Bahraini government's normalisation with Israel.

In a statement, the Palestinian leadership said:

> "The Palestinian leadership denounces the agreement as a betrayal of Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause. The leadership also recalled its ambassador from Manama."

Despite the criticism, the agreement was welcomed by many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Kosovo, Latvia, Oman, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Yemen.

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