MANAMA: The graffiti began appearing on the whitewashed walls of this tiny Persian Gulf kingdom two weeks ago: “Death to Israel,” “Down with the USA” and “No to American military bases in Islamic Bahrain.”
Bahrain, the base for the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, has long been considered one of the most dependably pro-Western nations in the region. But since Israeli troops invaded Palestinian-ruled cities in the West Bank, Bahrain has seen some of the most violent protests in the Arab world.
Suddenly, a trusted US ally has turned into a powderkeg. Thousands of people march in the streets almost daily, calling on their government to expel America’s ambassador, shut its military bases and boycott its products.
The protests sweeping this sliver of a nation — smaller than New York City and home to about 650,000 people — underscore the level of anger in the Arab world at Israel’s actions and a widespread perception that they are unconditionally backed by the United States.
In some Arab countries, such as Syria and Iraq, large marches and rallies are usually staged by the government and tightly controlled by a vast security apparatus. Such public displays of anger pose little threat to those military regimes.
As the protests grow larger and more violent, there are concerns that moderate Arab regimes could quickly lose legitimacy and face a challenge from their aggrieved populations. Analysts say demonstrations meant to show support for the Palestinians and denounce Israel could turn into protests against restrictions on civil liberties and free speech at home.
With protests reaching longtime US allies in the Persian Gulf, any threat to the stability of these countries could also threaten American access to oil and strategic military bases. As the Bush administration decides whether to launch a military attack on Iraq, it is likely to rely on the 5th Fleet based in Bahrain.
Anger against the United States was fanned by an incident on April 3, when the US ambassador to Bahrain, Ronald Neumann, attended a school gathering that offered a moment of silence for Palestinians who have died at the hands of Israeli soldiers. Neumann then asked for a similar remembrance for Israelis killed in recent suicide bombings.—Dawn/The Los Angeles Times- Washington Post News Service.