Bahrainis opposing the normalization of the Al-Khalifa regime with Israel held demonstrations just south of Manama, the capital of Bahrain. Their protests were met with a brutal crackdown by the Bahraini regime, with tear gas used against demonstrators.

The protests came in response to the official establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and Bahrain on 30 September, accompanying the Israeli Foreign Minister’s visit to the island nation that day.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa and King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa.

The demonstrators, also protesting in the Bahraini towns of Sadad and Sanabis, burnt Israeli flags and chanted “down with Israel” and “Out of Bahrain.”

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar, the leader of the Bahraini opposition Hassan al-Marzouk said that normalization with Israel goes against the popular will of the Bahraini people, and emphasized that the decision to normalize with Israel was made by the regime alone.

Referring to Israel, Al-Marzouk said that “this entity is unable to confront the missiles of the resistance and is unable to protect itself, so how will it protect others? This entity is trying to survive and not be erased from the map, so how will it provide support and protection to others?”

The opposition leader explained that the deal only benefits Israel, which uses such agreements to gain access to the Persian Gulf amid Tel Aviv’s escalation of hostilities against Iran.

The latest in a recurrent series of demonstrations was met with attacks against protesters. The Bahraini people have continued to hold demonstrations since the signing of the Abraham Accords.

The Abraham Accords, signed in August 2020, marked the official establishment of diplomatic ties and cooperation between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, largely motivated by their shared stance against Iran.

In October 2020, Bahrain and Israel signed a joint statement establishing diplomatic and ‘peaceful’ relations.