The sale of a Bahraini island to Israeli company Himnota triggered nationwide outrage in Bahrain on Monday, when it was revealed by an Israeli news outlet that the company had bought the island for a mere $21.5 million in an auction.

The news was initially announced by "TV7 Israel News" and was erased a short while after it was broadcasted. Several Arab-speaking accounts managed to get ahold of the news before it was erased. 

The Israeli regime bought an island in Bahrain.

Channel 7 of Israeli television, a few minutes after the publication of the news about Israel's purchase of the Bahraini island, removed this message from its website. pic.twitter.com/UiwyDPWt5J

— 'Sprinter' (@SprinterBV0000) February 13, 2023

Himnota is an Israeli private company widely known for illegally registering itself as the land owner of Palestinian territories. It is a subsidiary of the ultra-right Jewish National Fund (JNF).

According to the Israeli news channel, the purchased island is reported to cover an area of 9,553 square meters and would be suitable for the construction of skyscrapers and residential projects. 

It could also be used to evacuate Israelis in the event of war, sources stated. 

One of the company's representatives, named Avery Shnayer, said that friendly talks were being held with Bahrain for the peaceful transfer of the island's sovereignty to "Israel." 

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Several Bahraini activists have raised the alarm over the purchase, warning of a prelude to the occupation of another Arab country. 

Reports emerging (posted by Israeli news then deleted) that Israel has bought an island in #Bahrain - best described as colonial expansion - from a foreign ruling family that occupied Bahrain violently and has been ruling it violently since#Palestine https://t.co/FmvcuJWwjH

— Maryam Alkhawaja (@MARYAMALKHAWAJA) February 12, 2023

Another renowned human rights activist, Bahraini lawmaker Jawad Fairooz, described the report as "a very dangerous and worrying signal."

مؤشر خطير ومقلق جدًا!

شركة إسرائيلية تشتري جزيرة في #البحرين

قالت القناة السابعة الإسرائيلية أن شركة هيمنوتا المملوكة للصندوق القومي اليهودي قد اشترت جزيرة خاصة بمساحة 9554 مترًا مربعًا في البحرين مقابل 21.5مليون $ خلال مزاد طرحته الشركة العربية للمزادات https://t.co/VE8W3AW89g

— Jawad Fairooz (@JawadFairooz) February 12, 2023

The news also comes in light of a recent international military conference that was held in Bahrain under the auspices of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), in which Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi took part. 

Despite the condemnation of several activists over the move, the Bahraini regime continues to pursue a policy of normalization with "Israel", which officially began in September 2020, with a US-brokered normalization agreement. 

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