Bahrainis Mark 2011 Uprising, Protest “Israeli” PM’s Visit

By Staff, Agencies

Bahrainis have taken to the streets on the anniversary of their 2011 uprising against the Al Khalifa regime to protest a two-day visit by “Israeli” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to the Gulf country.

The demonstrators staged mass rallies in Manama as well as in other cities and towns Monday night to mark the eleventh anniversary of the February 14 uprising.

“11 years of patience and steadfastness on the path of truth… Bahrainis demonstrate in the Muqsha area on the anniversary of the start of the February 14 revolution,” main opposition group, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, tweeted.

“Our demands are just… Bahrainis are demonstrating on the anniversary of the start of the February 14 revolution, in confirmation of the continuation of the movement demanding rights,” it said.

Demonstrations have been held in Bahrain on a regular basis ever since a popular uprising began in mid-February 2011, with the participants demanding that the Al-Khalifa regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

Manama, however, has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent.

The overnight demonstrations coincided with Bennett’s visit to Bahrain, the first since they established relations under a 2020 US-sponsored normalization deal.

Bahrain normalized its relations with the “Israeli” regime in mid-September 2020, infuriating Palestinians, who view the deal and the likes with the United Arab Emirates [UAE], Sudan and Morocco as a betrayal of their cause.

Palestinians seek an independent state in the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip with East al-Quds [Jerusalem] as its capital.

Bennett’s office said the Israeli premier, who arrived in Manama early on Monday, planned to meet with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa.

“The leaders will discuss additional ways to strengthen bilateral ties … especially the advancement of diplomatic and economic issues, with an emphasis on technology and innovation,” it said.

Footage and photos posted on Bahrain’s social media networks showed protesters marching, chanting slogans and holding up Bahraini flags in condemnation of the “Israeli” premier’s visit.

The “Israeli” minister of military affairs, Benny Gantz, also visited Bahrain earlier this month, sparking widespread protests across the country.

Hossein al-Dihi, the deputy secretary-general of Bahrain's main opposition group, censured Bennett’s visit to the country and said, "We, the people of Bahrain, will remain defenders of the Palestinian cause and do not accept any normalization deal with the occupying regime.”

"Our nation seeks a dignified life and freedom, and the fight against political and financial corruption and the plunder of public property."

The senior member of the al-Wefaq called for an end to all forms of political repression and plunder of national sovereignty, saying the Bahraini people live under the most oppressive authoritarian regime and suppression of freedoms.

"With the help of each other, we and the opposition have succeeded in showing ourselves to the world, revealing the truth, exposing the government and showing their political, media and legal defeat," al-Dihi said. "We are outside Bahrain, because our country has become a big prison and the members of Al-Wefaq and the opposition are also detained, and no political work can be done in Bahrain.”

Dihi stressed that "the people of Bahrain will continue to work for justice, freedom and democracy."

"The Bahraini government is not worried about regional and international developments, but seeks to engage with the Zionists, while all future developments are going against their interests," he added.