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Analysts See Israel-Bahrain Peace Deal as Protection Against Iran

Linda Gradstein

   JERUSALEM - Israelis are delighted the government has reached another
   peace deal with an Arab country, this time Bahrain, following last
   month's agreement with the United Arab Emirates. Analysts say the Gulf
   states see the deals as a way to discourage potential attacks from
   Iran. But Palestinians are furious at the deal, calling Bahrain's move
   "another knife in the back."

   President Donald Trump announced the latest Arab-Israeli peace deal was
   in Washington on the anniversary of the September 11th2001, terrorist
   attack.

   "There's no more powerful response to the hatred that spawned 9/11 than
   the agreement that we're about to tell you," he said. "You will hear
   something today. It's very very important not only for the Middle East
   but for the world. In the spirt of peace and cooperation both leaders
   also agree that Bahrain will fully normalize its diplomatic relations
   with Israel."

   He said the deal will include an exchange of ambassadors, and a series
   of agreements in fields including high tech and tourism.

   In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was clearly pleased,
   especially as he faces growing anger among the public for what many say
   is his mishandling of the COVID-19 crisis. The rate of new infections
   in Israel per day is among the highest in the world.

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