King Hamad of Bahrain called upon United States President George W. Bush on Thursday to step up efforts to secure Israel's withdrawal from the West Bank towns it has reoccupied, the official BNA news agency reported.
"The international community, chiefly the United States, is called upon to intensify efforts to bring an end to the Israeli military offensive against the Palestinian people," King Hamad told President George W. Bush during a telephone conversation.
"What is taking place (in the Palestinian territories) will have (dire) consequences on the situation in the Middle East, threatening its security and stability as well as regional and international interests," he conveyed.
The Bahraini King discussed "the grave situation in light of Israel's military escalation against the Palestinian people" with President Bush and commended his call for an Israeli pullout from Palestinian cities and villages, BNA said.
Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, was formally designated by Bush last month as "a major non-NATO ally," clearing the way for expanded bilateral defense and economic relations.
However, anti-US sentiment has been on the rise in the Gulf kingdom since Israel launched its West Bank offensive on March 29th. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
