Warm welcome for Israeli leader in Bahrain

February 17, 2022

It is unlikely that Bahrain’s interior ministry band has played the Israeli national anthem much before – but they practiced it to perfection. The song rang out with an honour guard in the courtyard of Al-Qudaibiya Palace – home to the ruling Al-Khalifa monarchy. I watched and then saw smiles swapped in the sunshine between Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad. This was a scene unthinkable a few years ago. So was Mr Bennett’s welcome on Monday night – an Israeli leader and Gulf royalty mingling over a red carpet, feted under airport floodlights. But already it was starting to feel less remarkable. Normalisation is becoming normal. Mr Bennett’s trip to Bahrain is the second to a Gulf country in as many months. He went to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December. Both Arab states have signed trade and defence “framework” agreements with the Israelis. A year and a half has passed since the “Abraham Accords” began, now extending to four Arab countries.

Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations in September 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords, brokered by the Trump administration. Bahrain is hugely significant for its closeness to Saudi Arabia. It is certain that Saudi Arabia would have given this Israeli visit their blessing. Israel and the Gulf Arab nations are coming together to counter the growing threat of Iran. We may have expected without Bible in hand for these Arab nations to be Israel’s foe not friend. But the phrase – the enemy of my enemy is my friend, rings true here. God told Ezekiel 2500 years ago how the nations would line up in the latter days. He said that Sheba and Dedan (Gulf Arab nations) would be allied to Israel and we see this in place now.

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?  (Ezekiel 38:13)

Andy Walton

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Preceding

Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch for October 3 – 9, 2021

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Additional

1. Signs of the times – “Britain and the Gulf”
2. First joint naval exercise by Israel and Gulf states signals Iran worries
3. Israeli prime minister makes historic UAE visit, stressing ‘new reality’ for region
4. First joint naval exercise by Israel and Gulf states signals Iran worries
5. U.S. Mideast naval exercise and fighter jets in the Gulf region
6. Russia choose to start a war

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