NYCFPA Statement on Israel-Bahrain Peace Deal

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Date: 9/11/2020

PRESS RELEASE: NEW YORK CENTER FOR FOREIGN POLICY AFFAIRS STATEMENT ON ISRAEL/BAHRAIN PEACE DEAL

The United States President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa of Bahrain announced a ‘peace deal’ between Bahrain and Israel. In a joint statement, the three leaders state “(t)his is a historic breakthrough to further peace in the Middle East.” 

While The New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs (NYCFPA) continues to encourage the normalization of relations between any Arab state and the State of Israel…and applauds this announcement…this is only the beginning.  

Reacting to the announcement of the peace deal, NYCFPA Principal Director Justin Thomas Russell states…

“Peace and stability in the Middle East requires all parties to negotiate diplomatically and in good faith. There cannot be peace and stability in the region without recognizing the Palestinian right to sovereignty. There can not be peace and stability in the region without global acknowledgment of the Israeli state. There can not be peace and stability as long as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continue acts of aggression in the region.”

The NYCFPA continues to encourage any diplomatic discussions between the Israeli government and Palestinian leadership and calls on the President and Secretary of State to bring all stakeholders together for peace negotiations. 

However, most importantly, the NYCFPA calls on the President and Secretary of State to admonish the improper use of force / military actions conducted in the region by the Saudi and Emirati governments. As long as these acts of aggression are allowed, long-standing peace in the Middle East will never become a reality.