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25 Bahrain groups demand delegation that visited Israel be prosecuted

December 27, 2017 at 2:13 pm

King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attends the closing session of the 37th Leaders Summit by Gulf Cooperation Council member states in Manama, Bahrain on 7 December 2016 [Stringer/Anadolu Agency]

Some 25 Bahraini organisations including political associations, civil society groups and various intellectual and political trends have come together to condemn a visit by what they called a “suspicious” delegation to Israel.

In a joint statement, the organisations demanded delegates be prosecuted for abandoning the Bahraini national consensus which rejects normalisation with Israel.

“The Palestinian issue is the central issue of the Arab and Islamic nation and Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine,” they said in a statement.

Read: Jerusalem is a ‘side issue,’ says Bahrain FM

“The occupation is oppressive and should be resisted. The United States stands by the occupation against the Palestinian people and is no longer a mediator of the peace process,” it added.

The Bahraini associations affirmed their rejection of all forms of normalisation of relations with Israel. It called on all Arab countries to stop all relations with Israel.

A delegation from “This is Bahrain” visited Israel earlier this month amid controversy over the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Al-Aqsa guards expelled the delegation from the mosque’s courtyard after reports emerged that they were visiting to “normalise and strengthen ties with Israel” and to deliver “message of peace and brotherhood to Israel”.