Originally posted on The Middle East Monitor, March 25, 2021
Bahrain was the first-ever Arab state to not vote for the UNHRC motion condemning Israeli violations against Palestinians in the occupied territories, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported on Wednesday.
Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Al-Mayadeen TV channel naming Bahrain as the Arab country that did not vote, as it did not attend the voting session.
The motion was put for voting at the UNHRC on Tuesday evening, with 32 states voting for it out of 47, including European Union countries that have repeatedly abstained or have not attended sessions in order to avoid voting against Israel.
“However,” Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Al-Mayadeen stating: “The surprise was the absence of Bahrain which had always attended such sessions.”
The Bahraini absence angered Palestinians, who did not receive justification of this measure from the Bahraini mission in Geneva.
It is worth noting that Bahrain signed a deal to normalise ties with Israel on 15 September, 2020, along with the United Arab Emirates at the White House. It also signed a deal to start full diplomatic relations with Israel on 18 October, 2020.
