PLO on Bahrain-Israel agreement: Another treacherous blow

Palestinian leaders have criticized Arab states for normalizing relations with Israel, which continues the military occupation of Palestinian territory, stating that such agreements can cement this situation. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) announced that the agreement between Bahrain and Israel is "another treacherous blow to the Palestinian cause."

The Palestinian movement Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, stated that "the UAE and Bahrain have agreed to be tools in the hands of the occupation and the American administration."

"They have agreed to implement the deal of the century at the expense of the justice of the Palestinian cause. The agreement between Bahrain and Israel is a diplomatic sin and a blow to the Palestinian cause."

Islamic Jihad also stated that the agreement shows that the Bahraini authorities are acting "on American orders."

The agreement between Israel and Bahrain is a great betrayal of Islam and the Palestinians, wrote Hossein Amir Abdollahian, special advisor for international relations to the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, on Twitter, reacting to the two countries' agreement to establish diplomatic relations.

"Reckless leaders in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain must not pave the way for Zionist schemes. They should learn lessons from history. Tomorrow will be too late," Amir Abdollahian, a former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, wrote on Twitter, Reuters reported.

Iranian diplomacy also stated that the governments of Bahrain and its allies will be held responsible for any insecurity that Israel causes in the Gulf region.

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi described the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Bahrain as an "important step."

The agreement, announced on Friday, will help establish "stability and peace in the Middle East by contributing to a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue," Al-Sisi wrote on Twitter.

Bahrain is the second Gulf country, after the United Arab Emirates, to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, with the mediation of the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced last night that more countries will join this agreement.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Bahrain's decision to establish diplomatic relations with Israel last night, stating that it would deal a new blow to efforts to defend the "Palestinian cause."

"This will further encourage Israel to continue its illegitimate actions aimed at Palestine and its efforts to make the occupation of Palestinian lands permanent," the ministry's statement, carried by Reuters, said.

Bahrain and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties, U.S. President Donald Trump announced, describing the agreement as a "historic breakthrough."

In a joint statement, the U.S., Bahrain, and Israel stated that the agreement was reached after Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Friday.