Bahrain’s ambassador to the United States, Nasser M. Y. Al Belooshi, told the American Jewish Committee (AJC) on Wednesday that Bahrain, which was the first GCC country to formally end the trade boycott of Israel: “We have no problem starting a relationship with Israel,” the AP reported.

Though Bahrain has no diplomatic relationship with Israel, such ties could be possible after Israel and the Palestinians work out a final peace agreement, said the Bahraini ambassador who was appointed to the United States in 2005.

“When we start a relationship, we want it to be a lasting relationship,” he added.

Israel and Bahrain share growing concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions and Hamas' control of the Palestinian government, Al Belooshi said at a private reception hosted by the AJC.

“We feel very unsafe. We are not sure that something like Chernobyl will not happen again,” Al Belooshi said. “We would like to see a more united front against Iran. The United States is leading the charge, and other countries should follow.”

Al Belooshi also said Bahrain would not finance the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) under Hamas' leadership.

“We are concerned about cutting aid to the Palestinians, but we do not want terrorism to prosper. We would like Hamas to sit with Israeli officials and negotiate peace,” he said.

However, a Bahraini foreign ministry official played down Al Belooshi’s remarks about the possibility of establishing long and lasting relations with Israel following a final solution to the Palestinian issue as “not new,” according to the AP on Sunday.

It was also not out of the ordinary to attend the AJC meeting, which was held in Palm Beach, Florida, the official added, noting that other Arab ambassadors had taken part in similar events.

Al Belooshi told the AJC also about the history of Jews in Bahrain, noting that in the early 1900s, many of them had settled on the small Arabian Gulf island after emigrating from Iraq, Iran, and India, before most of them left following the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.

Today there are 70-100 Jews living in Bahrain, but that number is on the rise, al-Belooshi was quoted as saying by Palm Peach Daily News in its Friday edition, noting that Bahrain has always been inclusive of all religions Jewish, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Baha’is and Sikhs whose adherents live side-by-side and are productive members of society.

Bahrain was the first GCC country to formally end the trade boycott of Israel, though its parliament recently passed a resolution calling for the boycott's reinstatement.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PMC © All Rights Reserved