Middle East: Bahrain calls for new regional organisation with Israel

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Middle East: Bahrain calls for new regional organisation with Israel

Ian Black, Middle East editor
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday October 01 2008 14:33 BST

Middle Eastern countries should set up a new regional organisation
that includes all Arab states as well as Israel, Iran, and Turkey,
the pro-western Gulf state of Bahrain has urged.

The highly unusual call — which is likely to provoke controversy —
came from Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, the country's foreign
minister.

"Why don't we all sit together even if we have differences and even
if we don't recognise each other?" he told the London-based daily
newspaper al-Hayat. "Why not become one organisation?

"Aren't we all members of a global organisation called the United
Nations? Why not (come together) on a regional basis? This is the
only way to solve our problems. There's no other way to solve them,
now or in 200 years."

Asked if that should include Israel, he replied: "With Israel, Turkey,
Iran and Arab countries. Let them all sit together in one group."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/01/israelandthepalestinians.middleeast

[gordianot]

1. Will wonders never cease?

Logical, they are on their own and Israel has a big stick.

[shira]

2. Seems like a great idea

I'd be very disappointed if Israel declined to join.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Well, that's a bit of thinking outside the box!

It would be great if something like that could happen.

[oberliner]

5. They also picked a Jewish woman as Bahrain's ambassador to the US

Seems like a pretty outside-the-box sort of ruling family.

[Mudoria]

6. Makes you wonder how they've managed to survive

with viewpoints like this. Don't the fundies usually target other Muslims who take the other road?

[delad]

4. Great idea

at least on paper. Now if only they can get all parties on board and see how things work out