MANAMA (Dispatches) – Bahrain’s most prominent cleric has blasted some Arab states over normalization of diplomatic ties with the occupying regime, saying that the process runs contrary to the fundamental principles of the Palestinian cause, and poses serious threats to the security, resources and sanctities of the Muslim world.
Sheikh Isa Qassim described struggle against the trend as “decisive,” saying, “If the news about transformation of Bahrain into a base for Zionists in the Persian Gulf region turns out to be true or any effort is made in this regard, the engineers of such a plot will face a determined and serious resistance as Bahraini people, thanks to their religious beliefs, will not allow these goals and objectives to materialize.”
He added, “Bahraini authorities mistakenly think they would be able to maintain grip on power if they continue to tread the path of normalization, and imprison activists and popular figures. That is why resistance against such an approach is essential and mandatory.”
“The perseverance of national campaigners and Bahraini expatriates will set up a major and formidable barrier to the Manama regime’s treacherous policy,” Sheikh Qassim pointed out.
The senior Bahraini Shia cleric went on to denounce the Al Khalifah regime’s attempts to Judaize Bahrain, stating, “State officials are hell-bent on advancing the bids; but popular resistance is building up day by day to thwart the Judaization plans. This is a matter of identity and religion, which cannot be compromised, procrastinated or overlooked.”
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed U.S.-brokered normalization agreements with Israel in an event in Washington in September 2020.
Sudan and Morocco followed suit later in the year and inked similar U.S.-brokered normalization deals with the occupying regime.
The move sparked widespread condemnations from the Palestinians as well as nations and human rights advocates across the globe, especially within the Muslim world.
Palestinians slammed the deals as a treacherous “stab in the back” and a betrayal of their cause against the decades-long Zionist occupation of Palestinian territories.
A video has gone viral on social media, showing Bahraini lawmakers express their rejection to Manama’s normalization with the Zionist regime, calling the Tel Aviv regime “Zionist, criminal and a usurper entity”.
In a parliamentary session held on Thursday, MP Mamdouh Abbas al-Saleh criticized a Bahraini airline for providing flights to the occupied Palestinian territories with discounts that reach up to 25% at the time it is not a destination for the Bahraini people.
Kuwaiti activists, NGOs and political factions organized, on Friday, a massive rally in solidarity with Palestinian people.
The participants expressed their support for the Palestinians and their resistance against the occupation. They also expressed their opposition to the normalization of ties with the Zionist state.
During the rally, the participants chanted: “Palestine is a trust and normalization is treason … Palestine is an Arab state.”
Executive Head of the Youth League for Jerusalem, Youssef Al Kandari, said: “Our participation in this rally stems from our faith that Palestine is our cause, which is the cause of the whole Ummah. We have a duty to stand for Palestine.”
Kandari added: “The ongoing violations and aggression in Palestine, including home demolition, frightening and torturing our sisters – the female prisoners inside the Occupation jails – turn the Kuwaitis to take part in this event.”
He continued: “However, we live atmosphere of happiness here as we are celebrating our national days, but we are feeling sorry for the pains of our brothers who are suffering under the Israeli Occupation.”
Furthermore, the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has condemned in the strongest terms the decision by Sudan’s foreign ministry to move forward towards normalizing relations with the Zionist regime during talks with visiting foreign minister Eli Cohen in Khartoum, calling upon officials in the North African country to reverse the measure.
“Hamas believes that this move contradicts the general Sudanese stance, which is against the normalization of ties with the occupying Israeli regime and lends support to the just Palestinian cause,” the Gaza-based group said in a statement released on Friday.
“The development comes at the same time as the far-right Israeli administration has intensified its crimes against the Palestinian nation and killed 35 Palestinians, including women and children, since the beginning of the year. This is while the regime continues to forge ahead with its colonial settlements expansion plans as well as desecration of Christian and Muslim sacred sites,” the Palestinian resistance movement noted.