MANAMA — Bahrain King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa underlined the importance of intensifying efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict during his talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday, Bahrain News Agency reported. The resolution of the conflict should be based on the two-state solution that achieves a just and comprehensive peace that leads to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the legal international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, King Hamad added. The Bahraini king lauded the pivotal role of the US administration and its tireless efforts to advance the peace process, establish security and stability in the Middle East, confront Iranian interference in the region's affairs, and promote international peace. King Hamad affirmed Bahrain's support for these efforts and endeavors. Pompeo, who is on a tour to several countries in the region following an accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on normalizing ties, expressed his gratitude to the Bahraini king for the gracious welcome and stressed the depth of the distinguished historical friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Pompeo also discussed regional stability and Gulf unity with the crown prince of Bahrain on Wednesday. "We discussed the importance of building regional peace and stability, including the importance of Gulf unity and countering Iran's malign influence in the region," he said in a tweet following his meeting with Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. During the meeting, the crown prince of Bahrain welcomed steps made by the US to reach an agreement between the UAE and Israel to stop the annexation of Palestinian lands. The crown prince noted the importance of redoubling efforts to realize a just solution that utilizes peace as a strategic option to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The crown prince of Bahrain noted the importance of the international community's solidarity in combating terrorism and support towards efforts aimed at tackling the promotion and financing of terrorist groups and eradicating them at the source. In this regard, Crown Prince Salman stressed the need to adhere to good-neighborly relations and mutual respect for the sovereignty and independence of states and to reject Iranian threats, including the launch of ballistic missiles on countries in the region.
