Bahrain’s minister has allayed concerns that a war with Hamas could negatively impact progress between the Abraham Accord partners.
How will the Abraham Accords hold up in light of the war between Israel and Hamas?
Bahrain’s Finance Minister Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed concern that the fighting would force a setback in regional integration, saying the opposite must happen.
“It is critical to the future of this region that we continue to build bridges; the future of this region and its stability and security are built on providing opportunity for all, and that It will support a safe and secure community, bringing prosperity, hope and opportunity to all. ”
Bahrain’s finance minister was attending the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, an annual financial conference hosted by the not-for-profit arm of Saudi Arabia’s main sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.
The minister further said that the “traditional boundaries that have always existed,” referring to ethnic and religious boundaries that once informed the discourse, should be ignored and that those who “try to destroy” He said he should not be involved in decisions about the region’s future.
Instead, the minister concluded, “we need to look to the lineage of people we look forward to building and make sure they are the ones we are empowering.”
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were the first two countries to sign the landmark Abraham Accords with Israel and have focused on building economic peace in the region.
Manama and Abu Dhabi have condemned the massacre of civilians since the war began on October 7. At the United Nations on Wednesday, Bahraini’s delegation renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians in Gaza and Israel. Bahrain’s ambassador to the United Nations speaks at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Gaza and Israel, releases all prisoners of war, hostages and detainees, and allows medical aid, food, water and fuel to enter Gaza requested to do so.