Bahrainis mark 2011 uprising with protests against Israeli PM visit

Bahrainis have taken to the streets on the anniversary of their 2011 uprising against the Al Khalifa regime to protest a two-day visit by Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett to the Persian Gulf country.

The demonstrators staged mass rallies in Manama as well as in other cities and towns Monday night to mark the eleventh anniversary of the February 14 uprising.

“11 years of patience and steadfastness on the path of truth... Bahrainis demonstrate in the Muqsha area on the anniversary of the start of the February 14 revolution,” main opposition group, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, tweeted.

“Our demands are just… Bahrainis are demonstrating on the anniversary of the start of the February 14 revolution, in confirmation of the continuation of the movement demanding rights,”it said.

Demonstrations have been held in Bahrain on a regular basis ever since a popular uprising began in mid-February 2011, with the participants demanding that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

Manama, however, has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent.

The overnight demonstrations coincided with Bennett’s visit to Bahrain, the first since they established relations under a 2020 US-sponsored normalization deal.

Bahrain normalized its relations with the Israeli regime in mid-September 2020, infuriating Palestinians, who view the deal and the likes with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sudan and Morocco as a betrayal of their cause.

Palestinians seek an independent state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip with East al-Quds as its capital.

Bennett’s office said the Israeli premier, who arrived in Manama early on Monday, planned to meet with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa.

“The leaders will discuss additional ways to strengthen bilateral ties … especially the advancement of diplomatic and economic issues, with an emphasis on technology and innovation,” it said.

Footage and photos posted on Bahrain’s social media networks showed protesters marching, chanting slogans and holding up Bahraini flags in condemnation of the Israeli premier’s visit.

The Israeli minister of military affairs, Benny Gantz, also visited Bahrain earlier this month, sparking widespread protests across the country.

Bahrainis hold rallies against visit of Israel’s minister of military affairs to Persian Gulf island country

Bahraini people have held protest rallies against a visit by Israel’s minister of military affairs to the Persian Gulf island country.

Al-Wefaq: Our people will remain defenders of Palestinians

Hossein al-Dihi, the deputy secretary-general of Bahrain's main opposition group, censured Bennett’s visit to the country and said, "We, the people of Bahrain, will remain the defenders of the Palestinian cause and not accept any normalization deal with the occupying regime.”

Manama regime’s normalization with Israel 'a crime', not in line with public will: Bahrain opposition

Bahrain’s main opposition group al-Wefaq condemns the Al Khalifah regime’s normalization with Israel as a crime, saying the move doesn’t reflect public will.

The senior member of al-Wefaq called for an end to all forms of political repression, saying the Bahraini people live under the most oppressive authoritarian regime and suppression of freedoms.

Dihi stressed that "the people of Bahrain will continue to work for justice, freedom and democracy."

Palestinian resistance slams visit

Palestinian resistance movements Islamic Jihad and Hamas also condemned in separate statements the Israeli prime minister’s visit to Bahrain.

Islamic Jihad said such trips bring nothing but threat and danger to Arab states.

It called on the "brotherly Bahraini people and all the peoples of our nation to continue their rejection of normalization.”

“The Bahraini regime’s reception of the criminal Bennett, in light of the continuation and escalation of the Zionist aggression against our people, our families and our land, especially the city of al-Quds, is a treacherous stab against our people, a free reward and a cover for the occupation, and encouragement to continue its fascist crimes.”

Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, said such visits can never legitimize the regime’s occupation of Palestinian lands, also holding Bennett responsible for the atrocities Israeli forces commit against the Palestinian people.

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