After UAE, Bahrain next to sign ‘peace’ deal with Israel: Report

Bahrain is likely to follow the UAE in signing a peace agreement with Israel, news reports quoting an Israeli official said late Friday.

The Hebrew Kan channel quoted the unnamed official as saying “Bahrain is expected to be the next country, which will establish official relations with Israel”.

No time frame was specified, or further details given, although the report by the broadcaster also mentioned that a senior US official told Palestinian media that Bahrain and Oman are expected to normalise ties with Israel in the near future.

Bahrain was the first Gulf state to officially comment on the diplomatic move between the UAE and Israel.

According to the Bahrain News Agency, Manama welcomed the peace agreement and extended its congratulations to the UAE for “taking steps to enhance the chances for Middle East peace”.

Jared Kushner, a senior adviser and son-in-law to President Donald Trump also hinted that another Arab country could make a deal with Israel “in the coming days”.

On Thursday, Trump made the announcement that the UAE and Israel had formally normalised relations.

In exchange for recognition, Israel will allegedly “suspend” its plans to annex large swathes of the occupied West Bank.

Meanwhile, Turkey is mulling to suspend its diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), or recall its ambassador, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday, in response to the UAE’s recent deal with Israel, a move that has triggered widespread condemnation from Muslims.

Erdoğan told reporters that the UAE’s controversial deal with Israel is problematic and that Turkey stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“I have given the necessary instructions to my foreign minister. We may either suspend diplomatic ties or recall our ambassador because we stand with the Palestinian people. We have not let Palestine be defeated or let it be defeated,” Erdoğan said as per reports.

The president continued by saying that Saudi Arabia has also been taking wrong steps in the region, as he also criticized Egypt for cooperating with Israel and Greece.