Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, condemned Bahrain’s parliament following the passage of a law making it a crime to communicate with or travel to Israel.

The government of Bahrain, an island country in the Persian Gulf neighboring Saudi Arabia, passed a resolution today outlawing contact with Israel or Israeli officials. Those convicted of violating the law would face stiff punishment and could be imprisoned for up to ten years. Bahrain is considered an ally of the US, and is host to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

“I condemn the law Bahraini parliament has just passed. Bahrain is making any contact with Israeli officials illegal, which obviously makes it impossible for Bahrain to act on any treaty or agreement with Israel. This in turn works against normalization of Israeli relations with its neighbors who are supposed to be partners in peace.”

“Bahrain’s parliament has thrown away their ability to claim that Bahrain is a moderate, reasonable voice in the region. It is unacceptable for a country that claims to be an ally of the United States to contribute to the mass of anti-Israeli rhetoric and propaganda already present in the region. Bahrain must realize that treating Israel like a criminal state will change the relationship they have with America as well.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)