On October 23, the United States and Bahrain signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that included a statement about anti-Zionism being anti-Semitism.
The MOU stated that both the U.S. and Bahrain will work to combat anti-Semitism in the Middle East and will use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism, which refers the demonization and delegitimization of Israel as anti-Semitic.
The MOU also stated that the two countries will fight “all forms of anti-Semitism, including anti-Zionism and the delegitimization of the State of Israel.”
Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Elan Carr, who was one of the signatories of the MOU, tweeted thanks to Bahrain King Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa as well as President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “for leading us to a new Middle East!”
Groundbreaking: We just signed an historic agreement with the Kingdom of #Bahrain’s @GlobalHamad Centre to fight #Antisemitism together in the Middle East and beyond. We will also create programs to teach the region’s children the value of peaceful coexistence. Thank you Bahrain! pic.twitter.com/8c38Mwi8Zo
— Special Envoy Deborah Lipstadt (@StateSEAS) October 23, 2020
None of this would have been possible without the leadership of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @SecPompeo — thank you Mr. President and Mr. Secretary for leading us to a new Middle East!
— Special Envoy Deborah Lipstadt (@StateSEAS) October 23, 2020
Jewish groups praised the MOU.
“We thank U.S. Envoy Elan Carr (@USEAntiSemitism) for his leadership in the fight against global anti-Semitism,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted.
Historic: Bahrain🇧🇭's @GlobalHamad Centre has signed an agreement with the United States🇺🇸 pledging to combat “all forms of Antisemitism, including anti-Zionism."
We thank U.S. Envoy Elan Carr (@USEAntiSemitism) for his leadership in the fight against global antisemitism. https://t.co/AIOutyHC1H
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) October 23, 2020
“Amazing achievement!” the Simon Wiesenthal Center tweeted. “SWC proud to partner with #Bahrain and State Department as we pursue true peace among all nations.”
Amazing achievement! SWC proud to partner with #Bahrain and State Department as we pursue true peace among all nations. https://t.co/M6d9Pr1swe
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) October 23, 2020
The MOU with Bahrain comes the same day as Israel and Sudan agreed to normalize ties with each other. As part of the agreement, Sudan designated Hezbollah as a terror organization.
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