Alwaght- Due to intensifying Israeli crimes in the West Bank and Gaza, these days and on the eve of the international Quds Day, the Muslim world’s eyes are on the occupied territories to see how the Arab leaders react to the Israeli atrocities. So far, many countries have strongly condemned the Israeli occupation’s actions in the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and called for end of this situation. However, some compromising Arab states are sacrificing Palestinian cause to their political aspirations.
Bahrain is one of these countries. It is a country where there is stark contrast between positions of its people and its government. Following the global reactions to the crimes committed by the Israeli forces in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and Al-Aqsa Mosque, Bahrainis held a demonstration in Al Basitin town on Saturday in solidarity with Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinians. Dozens of Bahrainis holding flags chanted slogans of support to Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque and condemned the Israeli crimes against Palestinian worshipers in the Muslim world’s third holiest site.
Political groups and religious leaders in Bahrain along with Muslim world voiced their support to the Palestinian people. The February 14 Youth Coalition issued a statement lauding the Palestinian resistance to the Israeli forces especially in the holy month of Ramadan.
“The nation of Palestine will continue their honorable resistance against the continuous aggression of the Zionist regime, and they and their leaders are at the center of the resistance that demands the end of the existence of the Zionist regime,” the statement said.
The coalition also strongly condemned the Israeli atrocities in Al-Aqsa against the pilgrims and those fasting, and said that the Israeli attack on the worshipers demonstrated the deep crisis that is engulfing Tel Aviv and this regime finds no other way than expanding its atrocities against the people of Palestine and their sanctities to flee its crisis.
Also, Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the Bahraini revolution, described the Israeli attacks on the worshipers as a desecration of Islam and designated all Muslims religiously responsible for reaction to this sacrilege.
“The attack of the Zionists on Al-Aqsa Mosque is a dangerous open evil and we should not allow the Zionists and fanatical and ignorant Jews to continue this evil,” the statement by Sheikh Qasim said.
People and religious leaders in Bahrain have always been supportive of the Palestinians against the occupiers and held protests in their support before other regional nations.
A stain of dishonor on Al Khalifa
This time, too, Al Khalifa regime of Bahrain stood in front of the Muslim countries and declined to condemn the Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Al Khalifa has been in the Israeli orbit since 2020 as it normalized its relations with Tel Aviv and turned its back to the Palestinian cause. Tying its economy and security to Israel, Bahrain is enthusiastically seeking to protect this relationship that is obviously one-sided and serving the Israeli interests.
The UAE, which also normalized ties to Israel, declined to turn a blind eye to the Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque and warned Israeli officials that further raids could damage Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv ties. Even ambassadors of some Arab countries skipped an “iftar” dinner of the Israeli foreign ministry for the holy month, showing that they are angry with Israeli policy in the West Bank. However, Manama rulers are choosing silence to avoid any damage to ties with the Israeli government.
In the past two years, Bahrain has increased its security cooperation with the Israeli regime, and deals have been signed for the purchase of weapons and the deployment of Israeli drones in Bahrain. The Bahraini government has taken the lead among other Arab compromisers in serving the Israeli interests and has even turned its uncharted islands into bases for the Israelis so that they can comfortably advance their destructive projects against the regional countries.
The agenda of normalization was aimed at making the Arab countries openly recognize the Israeli existence and publicize their relations at all levels to gain legitimacy in the region, but this project halted at the UAE and Bahraini stations. Therefore, Bahrain is bearing the burden of other Arab countries not joining the normalization and has turned into a top executor of orders of the Israelis. It has moved so deep in its role that changed the place of the victim and oppressor, and its silence to Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque as the first qibla of the Muslims indicates that Manama rulers recognize rights for the Israeli occupation in this holy site.
Suffering from legitimacy crisis, Al Khalifa rulers are trying to settle this weakness and save their shaky throne through foreign assistance. But the fact is that the closer the relations with Tel Aviv, the more angry public with their government. So far, Bahraini nation has proven that it does not tie its Muslim and Arab identity to the fake Israeli identity. Political and religious figures, too, have warned Al Khalifa about the grave consequences of peace with Israel and attempts to Judaize Bahrain.
People of Bahrain recognize Al Khalifa as a puppet rule that takes dictates from Saudi Arabia and recently from Israeli regime and is devoid of self power. After normalization agreements, officially called Abraham Accords, in 2020, Bahrainis arranged several demonstrations condemning the thaw, saying that just opposite to their government, they are standing by their Palestinian brothers and keep the anti-Israeli sentiments alive with protests. During a visit to Bahrain last year of Issac Herzog, people took to the streets in massive protests, causing the Israeli President to cut his trip short to avoid tensions.
At a time the Muslim countries express their resolute backing to the Palestinians, Al Khalifa’s silence to the Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque will put an eternal stain on the honor of the Manama rulers, making them further detested by the regional public opinion.
