Bahrain

MANAMA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Jordan's foreign minister said on Saturday that he did not understand how Israel's goal of obliterating the Palestinian militant group Hamas it is fighting in Gaza could be achieved.

"Israel says it wants to wipe out Hamas. There's a lot of military people here, I just don't understand how this objective can be realized," said Ayman Safadi.

29 August 2023; MEMO: Bahrain has granted an increase in some human rights for those incarcerated within its prison system, amid a mass hunger strike involving hundreds of prisoners in the country.

19 August 2023; MEMO: At least 500 prisoners in Bahrain are undergoing a hunger strike in what is said to be the largest such demonstration within the Gulf state’s prison system, amid authorities’ ongoing detention of prisoners of conscience. 

According to The Guardian newspaper, detainees began refusing food on 7 August, with increasing numbers of prisoners having joined the hunger strike throughout the following weeks.

29 July 2023; MEMO: Israel's Kan channel reported on Friday night that Bahrain had postponed the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister to the country.

According to the Israeli channel, commentators believe Bahrain postponed Foreign Minister Eli Cohen's visit, scheduled for next week, because Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday.

13 May 2023; MEMO: Bahrain's educational institutions have been ordered by King Salman Al Khalifa not to implement any changes to the curriculum that are "not compatible with Bahrain's national values designed to protect religion and its core pillars."

According to Alarabiya News, the announcement came on Tuesday following issues raised by critics regarding the inclusion of Israel and changes to the maps of the contested Israeli-Palestinian territories.

15 Feb 2023; MEMO: Israel has reportedly "bought an island" from Bahrain, prompting criticism from activists opposed to the on-going normalisation between the two countries.

News of the purchase was initially announced by TV7 Israel News, before being removed after it was broadcasted, according to Al-Mayadeen. However, several social media users managed to screenshot the report before it was erased.

22 Nov 2022; MEMO: Archaeologists in Bahrain have uncovered what they believe to be the remains of a Christian monastery or bishop's home under the ruins of an ancient mosque. The discovery dating back between the sixth and eighth century may shed more light on the island's pre-Islamic, Christian heritage.

21 Nov 2022; MEMO: The United States is working to build an "integrated" infrastructure for air and maritime defence in the Middle East, a US official said.

The National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, told the annual Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain yesterday that his country is focused on deterring "imminent threats" in the strategic energy-rich and conflict-ridden region.

07 Nov 2022; MEMO: Oman's SalamAir withdrew from participating in the Bahrain International Air show, while the Kuwaiti Finance House removed its logo from the list of sponsors due to the participation of Israeli companies in the show.

This is the first time Israeli companies have participated in the international exhibition that takes place every two years.

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Pope Francis wrapped up the first-ever papal trip to Bahrain on Sunday by encouraging priests and nuns to keep ministering to the Gulf kingdom’s tiny Catholic flock. He specifically mentioned its prisoners, saying “the way in which these ‘least ones’ are treated is a measure of the dignity and the hope of a society.”