Context:

Israel and Bahrain have formally established diplomatic relations. The deal – brokered by the US – was signed in the Bahrain capital, Manama.

Recognition of Israel

• For decades, most Arab states have boycotted Israel, insisting they would only establish ties after the Palestinian dispute was settled.
• Bahrain is now the fourth Arab country in the Middle East – after the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan – to recognize Israel since its founding in 1948.
  • The Arab World consists of 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
    • Iran and Turkey are not Arab countries and their primary languages are Farsi and Turkish respectively.