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Before folks start to go gaga re Bahrain-Israel announcement, short thread of historical reminders for context:
1. Meretz's Yossi Sarid was the first Israeli minister (under Rabin of Oslo) to visit a Gulf State - Bahrain, 1994 - and met with Bahrain's FM. https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-when-bahrain-once-welcomed-israelis-1.5380610
1. Meretz's Yossi Sarid was the first Israeli minister (under Rabin of Oslo) to visit a Gulf State - Bahrain, 1994 - and met with Bahrain's FM. https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-when-bahrain-once-welcomed-israelis-1.5380610
More Bahrain-Israel historical reminders:
2. Bahrain was publicly hosting Yossi Sarid, Israel's Environment Minister, for the Working Group on the Environment, part of the multilateral peace process that was launched at the Madrid Conference in 1991. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/multilateral-working-group-on-environment-manama-bahrain
2. Bahrain was publicly hosting Yossi Sarid, Israel's Environment Minister, for the Working Group on the Environment, part of the multilateral peace process that was launched at the Madrid Conference in 1991. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/multilateral-working-group-on-environment-manama-bahrain
More Bahrain-Israel historical reminders:
3. Bahraini diplomatic representatives came to Israel to attend Rabin's funeral in 1995. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-11-07-1995311100-story.html
3. Bahraini diplomatic representatives came to Israel to attend Rabin's funeral in 1995. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-11-07-1995311100-story.html
More Bahrain-Israel historical reminders:
4. In 2005 -well before Bibi/Trump- Bahraini leader told US that the country already had contacts with Israel at intelligence/security level and would no longer refer to Israel as "enemy" or "Zionist entity." https://www.haaretz.com/1.5148676
4. In 2005 -well before Bibi/Trump- Bahraini leader told US that the country already had contacts with Israel at intelligence/security level and would no longer refer to Israel as "enemy" or "Zionist entity." https://www.haaretz.com/1.5148676
More Bahrain-Israel historical reminders:
5. Jumping back in time: Israel opened a diplomatic office in Bahrain in the mid-1990s. (It was closed when the 2nd Intifada broke out in September 2000.) https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170909-bahrain-israel-links-go-back-to-1994/
5. Jumping back in time: Israel opened a diplomatic office in Bahrain in the mid-1990s. (It was closed when the 2nd Intifada broke out in September 2000.) https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170909-bahrain-israel-links-go-back-to-1994/
More Bahrain-Israel historical reminders:
6. Senior Bahraini and Israeli officials continued to meet secretly during the 2000s (Sharon, Olmert govts), per diplomatic cables revealed by Wikileaks. https://www.haaretz.com/1.5125102
6. Senior Bahraini and Israeli officials continued to meet secretly during the 2000s (Sharon, Olmert govts), per diplomatic cables revealed by Wikileaks. https://www.haaretz.com/1.5125102
More Bahrain-Israel historical reminders:
7. Bahrain's FM met with Israeli FM Livni in 2007 during the UN General Assembly. https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2019/12/17/the-kingdom-of-bahrain-is-reaching-out-to-israel
7. Bahrain's FM met with Israeli FM Livni in 2007 during the UN General Assembly. https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2019/12/17/the-kingdom-of-bahrain-is-reaching-out-to-israel
More Bahrain-Israel historical reminders:
8. Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Ron Prosor reportedly visited Bahrain in 2007, representing FM Livni (Olmert govt). https://bhr.global.ssl.fastly.net/en/news/34214.html
8. Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Ron Prosor reportedly visited Bahrain in 2007, representing FM Livni (Olmert govt). https://bhr.global.ssl.fastly.net/en/news/34214.html
More Bahrain-Israel historical reminders:
9. And already in 2005, in the wake of the Gaza + 4 WB settlement Disengagement (Sharon govt), Bahrain lifted its ban on Israeli goods and closed the Israel boycott office. https://bhr.global.ssl.fastly.net/en/news/34214.html
9. And already in 2005, in the wake of the Gaza + 4 WB settlement Disengagement (Sharon govt), Bahrain lifted its ban on Israeli goods and closed the Israel boycott office. https://bhr.global.ssl.fastly.net/en/news/34214.html
