16 Bahraini blocs form alliance to back Palestinians

Manama: Sixteen political societies have set up an alliance to support the Palestinians and spearhead a host of activities that will "defend their rights and promote their cause."

"We will engage in a great number of activities for the sake of the Palestinians who need every possible support. We will for instance mobilise Bahraini nationals and expatriates to express their solidarity with the Palestinians in various forms and we will back up calls for the reopening of the Israel boycott office," said Ali Ahmad, Islamic Menbar MP, the host of the meeting that agreed on establishing the alliance.

The boycott office was closed in 2005 as a requirement for the signing of a free trade agreement with the US. However, MPs last week said that it should be reopened as a reaction to Israel's 23-day onslaught on Gaza.

"We will push for the abandonment of the Bahraini initiative to form a regional forum that will include all Arab countries, Turkey, Iran and Israel," Ahmad said.

Support for the initiative first announced by Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Bahrain Foreign Minister in September had swelled up until Israel launched its attacks, but is now eroding under popular and parliamentary pressure.

"We will send a letter to King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa to convey the popular view that we are against any step towards the normalisation of ties with the Zionist entity and against any contact with its people and institutions. We will also plead for the opening of boycott office and for an end to the move to launch a regional forum that includes the Zionists," Ebrahim Kamal Al Deen, the head of the politburo of Waad, a leftist society, said.

The alliance, the first time that the 16 societies agreed on a national plan of action, will spearhead calls for rallies and will hold seminars and conferences to debate Palestine-related issues.

It will also start a petition condemning the Israeli attacks that will be sent to the United Nations.

A communiqué signed by the 16 societies and read at the meeting called upon all Arab and Islamic states to "assume their responsibilities and sever all forms of relations with the Zionists."

"The least they can do as a result of this genocide is to recall their diplomats to protest at the crimes perpetrated by the Zionists against the helpless people in Gaza," the communiqué said.