Bahrain King: Need to Resolve Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Based on Two-State Solution

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (Reuters)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (Reuters)
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Bahrain King: Need to Resolve Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Based on Two-State Solution

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (Reuters)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (Reuters)

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa reiterated on Friday the need to reach a fair and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, based on the two-state solution.

He made his remarks in a call with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bahrain's state news agency BNA said on Friday.

King Hamad hailed the pivotal role played by the United States and its tireless efforts in pushing forward the peace process and achieving security and stability in the Middle East.

The United Arab Emirates last month agreed to normalize ties with Israel under a US-brokered deal. That deal is scheduled to be signed on Sept. 15 at a White House ceremony hosted by Trump and attended by UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Netanyahu.

Bahrain has accepted Trump’s invitation to attend the signing of the agreement.



Gulf, EU Leaders Meet for First Summit against Background of Mideast Turmoil

European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pose during an official welcome ceremony on the day of the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels Belgium October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pose during an official welcome ceremony on the day of the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels Belgium October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
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Gulf, EU Leaders Meet for First Summit against Background of Mideast Turmoil

European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pose during an official welcome ceremony on the day of the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels Belgium October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pose during an official welcome ceremony on the day of the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels Belgium October 16, 2024. (Reuters)

The leaders of six Gulf nations and European Union met for an inaugural summit on Wednesday against a backdrop of turmoil in the Middle East and struggles to find a unified position on the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, led Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the meeting in Brussels.

The summit was expected to encompass everything from visas and trade to the situation in the Middle East.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the summit was “long overdue” and added that “the economic ties between the European Union and the Gulf countries need to be strengthened."

“They are there, but they have the potential to be developed much, much further,” he said.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that “to be strategic partners means to listen to each other, to respect each other, to trust each other.”

She also highlighted the need for cooperation on pressing geopolitical issues like the war in Ukraine and that of Israel against Hamas and Hezbollah groups.

“We cannot implement our economic ambitions without security,” she said.

The 27-nation EU has long had relations with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which include Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.