Bahrain sanctions dealings with Israel
We have developed a fair dose of pessimism of late in relation to the potential for any progress on the Israel-Palestine situation. The Netanyahu-Lieberman partnership is not one designed for flexibility; it is a human embodiment of the Fortress Israel mentality. The unwillingness of Israel to compromise on the settlements and East Jerusalem issues, the embarrassing flip-flop of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on the matter, and the intransigence of Lieberman and his Moldovan foreign policy playbook do nothing to give us comfort. The whispers and echoes we hear from the Palestinians on the possibility of a third intifada as a result of current impasse also do nothing to reassure.
From the evidence we see from others in the region too there is a hardening of opinion against Israel. Turkey has been less than accommodating of Israel’s interests of late cancelling joint exercises. Some attribute this to Turkey sending the West about their desire to joining the EU is at the core of this peevishness, and that may be well true in part, but it is not a unique strengthening of anti-Israel rhetoric in the region. In what is probably only a symbolic gesture of opposition, Bahrain’s elected lower house of parliament recently passed a bill calling for 10 years in jail for anyone doing business or traveling to Israel. Now while the bill may well be rejected as it moves its way through Bahrain’s upper house, it is a message that should be heard. People were hoping that Israel would prove more amenable to a peace solution post the Gaza criticism, but it appears that the Israeli Knesset is even more intransigent than before. It doesn’t augur well for the region.
The measure was put forward by the conservative religious lawmakers and calls for 10 years in jail for anyone doing business or traveling to Israel.
“We believe that establishing contacts with the Zionist enemy is an offense punishable by law,” said Nasser al-Fadhallah, a conservative lawmaker.
He said it would be “embarrassing for the government” if the bill – which will be transferred to the upper house sometime in November – is postponed or blocked because it would be obstructing the will of the Bahraini people.
Bahrain has no diplomatic relations with Israel, but the country’s foreign minister created a stir last year when he said that Middle East nations should form a regional organization that includes Israel and Iran to try to resolve their disputes.
Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab nations that have peace deals with Israel. Other Arab nations have said they won’t establish ties with Israel until it signs peace deals with the Palestinians and Syria.
