Bahrain becomes latest Arab nation to recognise Israel
Washington: Bahrain has become the latest Arab nation to agree to normalise ties with Israel as part of a broader diplomatic push by President Donald Trump and his administration to fully integrate the Jewish state into the Middle East.
Trump announced the agreement on Friday, following a three-way phone call he had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The three leaders also issued a brief six-paragraph joint statement, attesting to the deal.
Another HISTORIC breakthrough today! Trump tweeted.
The announcement on the 19th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks came less than a week before Trump hosts a White House ceremony to mark the establishment of full relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain's foreign minister will attend the event.
It represents another diplomatic win for Trump less than two months before the presidential election and an opportunity to shore up support among pro-Israel evangelical Christians. Just last week, Trump announced agreements in principle for Kosovo to recognize Israel and for Serbia to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
This is a historic breakthrough to further peace in the Middle East, Trump, Netanyahu and King Hamad said in the statement.
Opening direct dialogue and ties between these two dynamic societies and advanced economies will continue the positive transformation of the Middle East and increase stability, security, and prosperity in the region.
Like the UAE agreement, Friday's Bahrain-Israel deal will normalize diplomatic, commercial, security and other relations between the two countries.
Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, had already dropped a prohibition on Israeli flights using its airspace. Saudi acquiescence to the agreements has been considered key to the deals.
Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner noted that the agreement is the second Israel has reached with an Arab country in 30 days after having made peace with only two Arab nations Egypt and Jordan in 72 years of its independence.
This is very fast, Kushner told The Associated Press. The region is responding very favorably to the UAE deal and hopefully it's a sign that even more will come.
The agreement will likely be seen as a further setback to the Palestinians who tried unsuccessfully to have the Arab League condemn normalization with Israel until they have secured an independent state.
That was one of the few cards still held by Palestinians in negotiations as peace talks remain stalled.
The joint statement made passing mention of the Palestinians, saying the parties will continue efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive, and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to enable the Palestinian people to realize their full potential.
The agreement makes Bahrain the fourth Arab country, after Egypt, Jordan and the UAE, to have full diplomatic ties with Israel. Other Arab nations believed to be on the cusp of fully recognizing Israel include Oman and Sudan. While tacitly blessing the deals Saudi Arabia, the regional power player, is not expected to move as quickly.
Like the UAE, Bahrain has never fought a war against Israel and doesn't share a border with it. But Bahrain, like most of the Arab world, long rejected diplomatic ties with Israel in the absence of a peace deal establishing a Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in 1967.
The agreement could give a boost to Netanyahu, who was indicted on corruption charges last year. Deals with Gulf Arab states are the direct result of the policy that I have led for two decades, namely peace for peace, peace through strength, Netanyahu has said.
The Israeli-UAE deal required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians. Telephone calls soon began working between the nations as they continue to discuss other deals, including direct flights.
While the UAE's population remains small and the federation has no tradition of standing up to the country's autocracy, Bahrain represents a far-different country.
Just off the coast of Saudi Arabia, the island of Bahrain is among the world's smallest countries, only about 760 square kilometers.
Bahrain's location in the Persian Gulf long has made it a trading stop and a naval defensive position. The island is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet and a recently built British naval base.
Bahrain is acutely aware of threats posed by Iran, an anxiety that comes from Bahrain's majority Shiite population, despite being ruled since 1783 by the Sunni Al Khalifa family.
Iran under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi had pushed to take over the island after the British left, though Bahrainis in 1970 overwhelmingly supported becoming an independent nation and the UN Security Council unanimously backed that.
Since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, Bahrain's rulers have blamed Iran for arming militants on the island. Iran denies the accusations, though weapons experts suggest explosives found there bear similarities to others linked to Iran. Israel and Iran view each other as top regional enemies.
Outside of those tensions, Bahrain's Shiite majority has accused the government of treating them like second-class citizens.
The Shiites joined pro-democracy activists in demanding more political freedoms in 2011, as Arab Spring protests swept across the wider Middle East. Saudi and Emirati troops ultimately helped violently put down the demonstrations.
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Gurugram: Four college students held for night-time thefts of car tyres, rims
Gurugram (PTI): The Gurugram Police has busted an alleged tyre-theft gang that was active in the city for the past two months, police said on Saturday.
Four students from different colleges were arrested for allegedly stealing tyres and rims of vehicles parked outside houses and hotels during the night, police said, adding that the accused squandered the proceeds of theft on lavish escapades at clubs.
According to an official, the accused have confessed to 14 cases of tyre and rim thefts, and all four have been taken on a two-day police remand after being produced in court.
The accused were identified as Rishikesh (23), a chartered accountancy student from sector-39 Jharsa; Arjun (22), a native of Siwana village in Jhajjar studying BA (LLB) at Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak; Piyush Rana (23), resident of Jodhpur village in Palwal and a student of B Com in Gurugram University; and Tushar Kumar (22), a native of Bihar's Munger and a B Com student of DSD college, Gurugram.
According to the police, a crime branch team nabbed the gang on Friday.
A senior investigating officer said, during interrogation, the accused revealed that they would go out at night in a blue Maruti Suzuki Fronx car belonging to Arjun.
They would park the car near the target vehicle and, using a jack and other tools, removed the tyres, including the rims. Then, they would leave the vehicle on bricks and load the stolen tyres on to the Fronx before fleeing, the officer added.
The vehicle used in the crimes will be impounded soon, a Gurugram Police spokesperson said.
"During interrogation, the accused revealed that they are childhood friends and have studied together. All of them are fond of parties and clubs, and began stealing when they couldn't get pocket money from home. They had been actively involved in thefts for the past two months," he added.
