U.S. President Donald Trump makes remarks at the Amphitheater after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery as part of Memorial Day observance, Arlington, Virginia, U.S., May 29, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Theiler
Washington [US], September 11 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the normalisation of ties between Israel and Bahrain, weeks after it brokered the peace deal between UAE and Israel.
Trump made the announcement of the agreement on Friday, following a three-way phone call he had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain‘s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The three leaders also issued a brief six-paragraph joint statement, attesting to the deal.
“President Donald J. Trump, King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel spoke together and agreed to the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain,” according to the statement tweeted by Trump.
“The second Arab country to make peace with Israel in 30 days,” he tweeted.
For decades, most Arab states have boycotted Israel, insisting they would only establish ties after the Palestinian dispute was settled.
Bahrain follows the lead of its neighbour, the United Arab Emirates, which reached the peace deal with Israel last month. Both historical agreements will be signed at the White House ceremony next Tuesday.
“This is a historic breakthrough to further peace in the Middle East,” Trump, Netanyahu and King Hamad said in the statement. “Opening direct dialogue and ties between these two dynamic societies and advanced economies will continue the positive transformation of the Middle East and increase stability, security, and prosperity in the region.”
Two Arab accords with Israel open door for peace, prosperity in Middle East, says Pompeo
Washington [US], September 12 (ANI/Sputnik): US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said he is confident the two recent Arab countries’ peace agreements with Israel will pave the way for new accords with other states in the Middle East.
Pompeo’s comments came on the heels of the announcement that Bahrain and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic relations, following a similar deal reached last month between the Jewish state and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“The two peace agreements open new possibilities for peace and prosperity,” Pompeo said in a statement released by the State Department on Friday. “From my recent travels to the region, there is clear momentum for a new Middle East. I thank King Hamad and Prime Minister Netanyahu for having the courage to change the fate of nations.”
Bahrain became the fourth Arab country to recognise Israel after Egypt in 1979, Jordan in 1994 and the UAE last month.
Pompeo said on the 19th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States, the Trump administration is ushering a new era of peace and it is humbling when the course of history changes seemingly overnight.
“In less than one month, under President Trump’s leadership, we have another historic agreement, this time between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain. As the President laid out at the beginning of this administration, he would strengthen America’s friendships and build new partnerships in pursuit of peace. He kept his promise,” he said.
Both agreements will be signed at a White House ceremony next Tuesday.
The White House said the latest peace agreement will see Israel and Bahrain exchange ambassadors and allow direct flights. Under the terms of the accord, Bahrain and Israel will also launch initiatives to boost cooperation across a broad range of sectors, the White House added.
Trump, who runs for re-election this November, has recently been nominated for the Nobel peace prize for reconciling Israel and UAE. (ANI/Sputnik)
