Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/14/israeli-prime-minister-lands-in-bahrain-in-first
The Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett arrived in Bahrain’s capital Manama in the highest-level visit since the countries established relations through the 2020 US-sponsored deal based in part on shared worries about regional power Iran. Bennett will meet with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, his office stated before he landed in the state on Monday. The two day trip to Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Gulf headquarters, comes following missile attacks on the neighbouring United Arab Emirates by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group. Additionally, Israel normalised ties with the UAE in 2020, the same as Bahrain. Bennett was quoted in saying he hoped the visit would be a “message of goodwill … and a shared stance against common threats.” Recently, Israel has increased talks with regional Gulf states; however, this isn’t popular in every Muslim country. The outreach by Bahrain’s monarch, a Sunni Muslim, has been criticised by an opposition led by the Shia majority. The country has seen protests in solidarity with the Palestinians. Israel has offered to negotiate with its new Gulf partners on air defence, but has not revealed whether this might include selling the cutting edge short-range rocket interceptor “Iron Dome.” There is “a lot” of interest in the Iron Dome in the region, according to one US official, who could not be named.
This is extremely important as it further signifies the strengthening of relations between Israel and a Gulf state. This is an area of the world that has been extremely volatile, in large part due to the state of Israel’s existence in a region. Following the meetings, organized by the US, between Israel and other Gulf states, there has not been many more high level meetings between them so this is a large step forward towards ultimate peace, in whatever form it may come, in the region. Additionally, the discussion of the sale of the Iron Dome is extremely significant as it could point towards shared alliances against Iran, whom many view as a common enemy between the two countries.
This relates to what we are discussing in class as it discusses national interest in relation to national security. It is in both Bahrain and Israel’s national interest to be allied and have good relations due to the looming power and enemy that is Iran.