Bahrain’s King greets the first Jewish returnee.
Kashmiri Nomad reported that King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa of Bahrain “officially extended a warm invitation to any expartiate Bahraini Jew to return to the Arab kingdom.”

The King was attending the recent Interfaith Conference organised at the United Nations and he reminded the audience that Bahraini Jews, even those that settled in the Jewish state can return. He first extended a general invitation for Bahrain’s expatriate Jews to return last August.

His majesty is no recent judeophile. He appointed a Jewish woman, Huda Azra Nunu to be Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United States, the first Jewish woman to serve in such a capacity in the Arab world, according to Kashmiri Nomad.

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry suggested Israel be included in a regional summit of Middle Eastern nations that would also list Iran among the attendees. However, the reasons are politically-motivated.

I am tempted to think this is connected to the King’s international relations goals, including balancing against Iranian power in the region. This is especially an attractive analysis because Bahrain is a Shia-majority country ruled by a Sunni monarchy.

But, I have a different theory. Is it just a coincidence or did this new openness come at about the same time that the royal family had its falling out with previous Bahrain guest, Michael Jackson. The star used to roll around Manama in a burqa.

The King’s son launched a suit against the King of Pop last fall over some bad recording deal. Perhaps, they remembered Jackson’s famous lines, “Jew me, Sue me” and “Kick me, Kike me,” in his song, “They Don’t Care About Us.” They thought replacing Jacko with some Jews would be sweet revenge.

Jackson will have to fit “Bahraini prince sue me” into his next song.

[tarboush tip: Um Yakoub]

Related posts:

1. Bahrain vs. Marcel Khalife’s Rights
2. Jackson Going Down the Straight Path?
3. The Jews of Iraq
4. Bahrain, Welcome to the Club!
5. Right of Return for All