Relationship dossier
Bahrain
Palestine
Relationship assessment
Support for Palestinian statehood alongside a dispute over Bahrain’s normalization with Israel
Bahrain toward Palestine
-10Bahrain has voiced support for Palestinian statehood, but its 2020 agreement to normalize relations with Israel drew opposition from Palestinian leaders.
Palestine toward Bahrain
-15The Palestinian Authority opposed Bahrain’s 2020 normalization agreement with Israel and recalled its ambassador from Bahrain; the ambassador later returned.
Overall relationship
-10The relationship combines Bahrain’s stated support for Palestinian statehood with a substantial disagreement over its normalization agreement with Israel. The Palestinian Authority’s ambassador recall and subsequent return indicate a period of diplomatic friction followed by resumed representation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Bahrain has affirmed support for Palestinian statehood while normalizing relations with Israel through the 2020 Abraham Accords, a move opposed by Palestinian leaders. The Palestinian Authority responded by recalling its ambassador from Bahrain and later returned the ambassador. These developments reflect limited cooperation alongside a significant political disagreement.
Areas of tension
- Palestinian opposition to Bahrain’s 2020 normalization agreement with Israel
Key developments
Bahrain agreed to normalize relations with Israel, drawing opposition from Palestinian leaders.
The Palestinian Authority recalled its ambassador from Bahrain in protest of the normalization agreement; the ambassador later returned.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of Bahrain’s practical assistance to Palestine are unclear.
- The extent of subsequent bilateral diplomatic engagement is uncertain.