Israel and Bahrain announce normalization of relations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (l) and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (AFP photo montage).
RONEN ZVULUN, Fayez Nureldine / AFP
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3 min
Israel and Bahrain reached an agreement on Friday (September 11) to normalize their relations, a month after the agreement between the United Arab Emirates and the Hebrew state.
The announcement was also made by Donald Trump as the deal is due to be officially signed at the White House next week.
Bahrain and Israel share the same hostility towards Iran with other Arab countries in the region.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Michel Paul
A "
historic step towards peace in the Middle East
", it is claimed in Israel.
The announcement of the normalization agreement between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain was made simultaneously in the White House by US President Donald Trump and in Jerusalem by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“
It's a new era of peace.
Peace in exchange for peace.
The economy in exchange for the economy.
We have invested in peace for many years.
And now it is the peace that will invest for us.
It will allow many investments in Israel.
And it is very important,
”said Benyamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli Prime Minister is due to attend the White House in Washington on Tuesday in the signing ceremony of the
normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates
concluded just a month ago.
And it is indicated that a representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain will also take part in this ceremony.
From a diplomatic source in Jerusalem, it is said that other Arab countries could very soon follow the same path.
►
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" An agression "
In Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hailed a "
historic
"
agreement
and an important step for stability and peace in the Middle East "
which will make it possible to find a just and permanent solution to the Palestinian cause
".
But the Palestinians do not hear it that way.
The Palestinian Authority and the Islamist movement Hamas immediately castigated the announcement.
"
The agreement between Bahrain and Israel is a stab in the back of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people,
" Ahmad Majdalani, Minister of Social Affairs of the Palestinian Authority, told AFP.
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, denounced an "
aggression
"
causing
"
serious damage
" to the Palestinian cause.
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