Bahrain recalls ambassador to 'Israel', halts economic ties

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Nov 2023 17:56
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The Bahraini Council of Representatives announces that the Bahrain ambassador to "Israel" has been recalled weeks after the Israeli ambassador left Bahrain due to mass protests.

In this July 28, 2013 file photo, the Bahraini Council of Representatives convened in Manama, Bahrain (AP)

In a statement, the Bahraini Council of Representatives confirmed the recall of the Bahraini ambassador from "Israel" and the cessation of economic relations with "Tel Aviv".

The Bahraini Council announced that these positions come as a "confirmation of the firm historical Bahraini position in support of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people."

The statement also pointed out that "the continuation of the war, military operations, and the ongoing 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 and lives of innocent people and civilians in Gaza and all Palestinian regions."

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🎥 انطلاق تظاهرة في بلدة #باربار نصرةً لـ ⁧#فلسطين⁩ وتنديداً بالجرائم الصهيونية ومطالبةً بـ #طرد_السفير_الصهيوني من #البحرين وبراءةً من التطبيع والمطبعين. #طوفان_الاقصى #أمل_الشعب #العمل_الإسلامي_البحرين pic.twitter.com/btDm7KT701
— جمعيّة العمل الإسلاميّ - أمل (@AmalSociety) October 29, 2023

In turn, Times of Israel cited the Israeli Foreign Ministry as stressing that "Israel-Bahrain relations are stable," claiming that "Tel Aviv" did not receive any "announcement or decision from the Bahraini government to recall the countries’ ambassadors."

Israeli Haaretz news outlet underscored that "Israel's ambassador returned for security reasons following the outbreak of the war in Gaza," adding that "the two ambassadors were recalled for security reasons and regardless of the parliamentary decision."

The official Bahraini positions come as a result of the continuation of popular demonstrations in the country and the continuing demands of the Bahraini people to expel the Israeli ambassador from Manama and to sever relations with the occupying entity.

تظاهرة ضخمة في البحرين تضامنًا مع شعب الفلسطيني المظلوم ودعوات لوقف التطبيع المخزي - ١٣ أكتوبر ٢٠٢٣#طوفان_الأقصى #فلسطين #الوفاق #البحرين #Bahrain pic.twitter.com/rd2xrBuiRq
— Alwefaq Society (@ALWEFAQ) October 13, 2023

US contemplating 'international force' regarding Gaza

A White House press briefing on Wednesday announced that US troops will not be deployed to Gaza, denying reports that they will be sent on a peacekeeping mission.

Upon asking White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby whether US forces would be sent to “stabilize the situation” in Gaza, he replied, “There's no plans or intentions to put US military troops on the ground in Gaza, now or in the future,” adding, “But we are… talking to our partners about what post-conflict Gaza should look like.”

Kirby confirmed that the administration is contemplating “some sort of international presence” when the attacks wind down in the region but as of yet, no decisions on the issue have been made.

This comes in response to a Bloomberg report that Washington and "Israel" were discussing whether to give “temporary oversight to Gaza to countries from the region, backed by troops from the US, UK, Germany and France.”

The report continued that the plans were still in development, but at least two other options were being taken into consideration, including involvement by the United Nations.

Kirby still mirrored the idea that Hamas “can’t be the future of governance in Gaza,” and when asked about the next steps for Gaza, he claimed officials “don’t have all the answers to that,” and insisted that “whatever it is – it can’t be Hamas.”