Bahrain cuts economic ties with Israel; expels envoy
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Riyadh: Bahrain's parliament declared on Thursday that the country had withdrawn its ambassador to Israel and cut off economic ties with Tel Aviv.
The Israeli ambassador left Bahrain, according to a statement posted on the website of the Bahraini parliament. Bahrain also chose to sever all economic relations with Israel and called back its envoy from Israel.
It further stated that the kingdom's decision to withdraw its envoy and halt business ties is based on a “solid and historical stance that supports the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
The parliament statement continued: “The Council of Representatives affirms that the Israeli ambassador in the Kingdom of Bahrain has left Bahrain and the Kingdom of Bahrain has decided on the return of the Bahrain ambassador to Israel. The cessation of economic relations was also decided.
“The Council affirms that the continuation of war and military operations, and the continuing Israeli escalation in light of the lack of respect for international humanitarian law, prompts the Council to demand more decisions and measures that preserve the lives of innocent people and civilians in Gaza and all Palestinian areas.”
Bahrain’s National Communication Center confirmed the move and said that the “priority of efforts at this stage must be focused on protecting the lives of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law and working to secure urgent humanitarian corridors to deliver relief and medical aid to the Gaza Strip.”
It added that there is a “need to spare the region from the consequences of a new cycle of violence and work to find a clear political horizon for a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace that guarantees stability and security for all.”
Although the events have been extensively covered by a number of news outlets, including Israeli ones, the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet released a statement.
With then-President Donald Trump serving as their host, Bahrain, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates signed the Abraham Accord in the US in September 2020.