Israeli parliament approves deal to set up ties with Bahrain

Knesset approves US-brokered deal to establish formal relations with Bahrain, joining the UAE and Sudan in establishing relations with Israel

Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani (C), Head of Israel's National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat (R) and US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin (L) take part in a joint press conference at the Bahraini International Airport on October 18, 2020. AFPShow less

Israel’s parliament on Tuesday approved a US-brokered deal establishing formal relations with Bahrain, by a vote of 62 legislators in favour and 14 against.

The Middle East countries signed a joint communique on October 18 to formalise their nascent ties. Bahrain is one of three Arab countries – along with the United Arab Emirates and Sudan – to set aside hostilities with Israel in recent months.

Israel’s deals with Gulf Arab states Bahrain and the UAE were forged in part over shared fears of Iran. But they angered the Palestinians, who have long demanded statehood before any such regional rapprochement.

The Arab-led Joint List opposes normalisation of Arab states' ties with the Israel as long as it continues to occupy Palestinian territory seized in the 1967 Six-Day war.

Speaking in the televised debate, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chided the party for its attitude to the deal but said there would chances to "fix it" in future, implying more diplomatic accords in the pipeline.

"A strong Israel brings other Arab countries closer to it, including those that have not yet made public the normalisation that is developing between us," he said.

"I am convinced that there will be more countries that will officially join the circle of peace."

“The Knesset [parliament] plenum approved the joint announcement regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations, peace and friendship between the state of Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain,” a Knesset spokesman said in a statement.

In parliament before the vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu predicted more regional countries would move to open relations with Israel.

“[The] buds of normalisation are already out there, waiting to blossom. If we pursue the policy I crafted, I am convinced that the flowering will be witnessed in the open,” Mr Netanyahu said.

The United Arab Emirates in August became the first Arab state to establish relations with Israel since Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. It was quickly followed by Bahrain, and later by Sudan.

The US-brokered deals with the UAE and Bahrain were formalised at the White House on September 15.

The outgoing administration of US President Donald Trump has been trying to broker similar deals with other Arab states.

In parliament, Defence Minister Gabi Ashkenazi thanked the US administration, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the crown prince.

He also thanked the Bahraini foreign minister, Abdullatif al-Zayani "who will be visiting Israel soon".