Bahrainis Stage Anti-Zionist Protest, Setting Israeli Flag on Fire
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A huge gathering of Bahraini people took to streets in Diraz, west of Manama, to voice their outrage over a recent visit by an Israeli delegation to the Arab kingdom, setting fire to the Israeli flag.
Bahraini citizens from all walks of life attended the demonstration held on Thursday night in the restive region of Diraz, which is the hometown of the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s Shiite majority, Sheikh Isa Qassim, according to the Arabic-language Al-Manar TV network.
The protesters denounced the Israeli delegation’s trip to the Persian Gulf island country as “a source of shame” for the Al Khalifa regime and the betrayal of the Islamic and Arab Ummah (community).
During the demonstration, the protesters condemned the Manama regime’s attempts to normalize relations with Tel Aviv.
The Al Khalifa regime on many occasions has tried to normalize ties with Israel over the past months. Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifah sent a message of condolences to Tel Aviv back in September to pay tribute to former Israeli president Shimon Peres.
"Rest in Peace President Shimon Peres, a Man of War and a Man of the still elusive Peace in the Middle East," Bahrain's top diplomat had posted on his Twitter account on September 29.
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
