Factors in the US administration: Trump announces normalization agreement between Israel and Bahrain Israel today

According to reports in the US, the US president will announce later today that the King of Bahrain, Hemed al-Issa al-Khalifa, will attend the signing ceremony of the peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates in Washington, D.C. Trump

• US President Donald Trump // Photo: AFP

Government officials in Washington confirmed today (Friday) that the King of Bahrain, Hemed al-Issa al-Khalifa, will attend the signing ceremony of the peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on September 15, and will declare normalization with Israel. 

According to US media reports, President Trump is expected to announce the move today (Friday), which is expected to take place next week in Washington.

Earlier, Trump told a White House news conference that another country could join the peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and even stated that some countries "stand in line" to enter into an agreement. 

The US president said during a news conference: "Next week we will sign an agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel in the White House, and another country may join. I can tell you that countries are waiting in line because they want to enter into an agreement." 

The president added: "You will hear about countries joining in a short period of time. Then we can have peace in the Middle East."

The president hinted in the direction of Saudi Arabia and said: "I think eventually you will see some countries entering into an agreement. The big ones are going to enter. I talked to the King of Saudi Arabia, so we talk. We just started the dialogue. You will see them enter." 

Trump also referred to the Palestinians and said he thought they would "return to the groove soon."

The president said: "Honestly, I'm surprised they did not join the negotiating table earlier."

Trump has even stated that he will stop freezing Palestinian Authority assets in the United States if the Palestinians return to the negotiating table and show a willingness to reach an agreement. 

The announcement comes less than a week after the president announced during a meeting at the White House with Kosovo and Serbia leaders, who signed an economic memorandum of understanding, that Kosovo would maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and that Serbia would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. 

The ceremonial signing ceremony of the peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is expected to take place on Tuesday at noon (local time) at the White House, with the participation of President Trump.

The Israeli delegation will begin its journey back to Israel immediately upon its completion.