Bahrain follows UAE with Israel peace deal
ISRAEL and Bahrain last night struck an historic peace deal brokered by Donald Trump, following a similar accord with the United Arab Emirates, as the US president brings together former foes in the Middle East.
“Another historic breakthrough today! Our two great friends Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain agree to a peace deal – the second Arab country to make peace with Israel in 30 days!” the US president wrote on Twitter last night. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, hailed a “new era of peace” and said “there will be more [peace deals with Arab states]”.
Bahrain is the second Gulf state to embrace Israel, after the UAE announced on Aug 13 that it would establish a full diplomatic relationship with the Jewish state and strike a series of trade deals.
Next Tuesday Mr Netanyahu and his Emirati counterpart, Mohammed bin
Zayed, are due to attend a signing ceremony in Washington to finalise the details of their accord. Under the terms of the Uae-israel deal, Israel agreed to suspend its controversial plans to annex up to 30 per cent of the West Bank, which the Palestinians claim as their own land. Emirati officials say it was the threat of annexation that brought them to the negotiating table.
Both the UAE and Bahrain share some common ground on security issues with Israel and the United States, as they are all concerned about the growing influence of the Iranian regime in the Middle East. Analysts say President Trump is seeking to style himself as the world’s peacemaker ahead of elections in November. Mr Trump had hinted during a press conference on Thursday that a second Arab nation was due to follow the UAE’S lead, prompting speculation that it would either be Bahrain or Oman.
But other Muslim-majority countries reacted with frustration and concern about the new alliance emerging in the Middle East. Iran described the Uae-israel accord as an act of “strategic stupidity”, while Turkey threatened to sever diplomatic ties with the UAE.
Meanwhile, Serbia and Kosovo’s decision to set up embassies in Jerusalem has opened a fresh rift between Israel and the EU, which faces claims it is putting pressure on Balkan states to adopt its foreign policy even though they may never be allowed to join the club.
Serbia and Kosovo made the surprise announcement alongside Mr Trump last week, granting a major diplomatic coup to Israel. But EU officials reacted to the deal with “serious concern” and implied that neither country would be allowed to become member states if they pushed ahead with the decision.
The Daily Telegraph understands that Israel was infuriated by the EU response. A correspondent for Israel Hayom claimed the EU was showing “blatant and ongoing hostility” towards Israel.