The Palestinian Authority and Hamas on Friday condemned the Israeli-Bahraini peace deal as another "stab in the back" by an Arab state and an act of "aggression" against the Palestinians.
The agreement "is a betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Palestinian issue," Ramallah's government said in a statement. The PA's Foreign Ministry announced it was immediately recalling its ambassador to Bahrain for consultations in protest of Manama's decision to normalize ties with Israel.
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Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip, said it was an "act of aggression" that dealt "serious prejudice" to the Palestinian cause.
Veteran Palestinian politician Hannan Ashrawi said, "If you really wish to 'advance the cause of peace, dignity, and economic opportunity for the Palestinian people' how about ending Israel's ruthless occupation and its theft of our land and resources? Coercing Arabs to normalize [ties] with Israel will not bring you peace or dignity."
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, a special adviser on international affairs to the speaker of Iran's parliament, called the agreement a great betrayal to the Islamic cause and Palestinians.
"The imprudent leaders in UAE and Bahrain must not pave the way for the Zionist schemes. They should learn lessons from history. Tomorrow is late! The US lifeline has worn out for years" he tweeted.
Ankara also strongly condemned the peace deal. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the move "deals a fresh blow to efforts to defend the Palestinian cause," adding that "it will further encourage Israel to continue illegitimate practices towards Palestine and its efforts to make the occupation of Palestinian lands permanent."
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, which made a similar announcement last month, welcomed the decision by Bahrain and Israel to establish relations. Abu Dhabi said it hoped the would have a positive effect on the climate for peace and cooperation in the region and around the world.
"The move represents a significant step towards an era of security and prosperity ... (and) would expand the scope of economic, cultural, scientific, and diplomatic avenues of cooperation," the UAE foreign ministry said in a statement.
The UAE will on Sep. 15 normalize ties with Israel, which was announced last month. Bahrain and Israel will sign a declaration the same day.
Egypt, which in 1979 was the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with the Jewish state, also welcomed the move.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said that he appreciates the "important step" of Israel and Bahrain establishing diplomatic relations.
The agreement, announced on Friday, would help establish "stability and peace in the Middle East, in a way that achieves a just and permanent settlement of the Palestinian issue," he said in a statement.
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