PASSIONS AROUSED AT JERUSALEM DAY DEMOS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001585

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC BA
SUBJECT: PASSIONS AROUSED AT JERUSALEM DAY DEMOS


Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The annual Al Quds International Day
demonstrations October 28 drew thousands showing their
support for the Palestinian people. Participants chanted
anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans while carrying
Bahraini, Palestinian, and Hizbollah flags along with
pictures of Ayatollahs Khomeini and Khamenei. Minister of
Interior Shaikh Rashid Al Khalifa expressed concern to the
Ambassador about recent statements from the Iranian president
and the influence they might have in the Bahraini Shi'a
community. End Summary.


2. (SBU) A sizable crowd (estimates ranged from 2,000 to
8,000) of Bahraini men, women and children, led by leading
Shi'a cleric Shaikh Isa Qassem and opposition political
society Al Wifaq President Shaikh Ali Salman, participated in
a demonstration October 28 after Friday prayers in honor of
Al Quds (Jerusalem) International Day. The annual (last
Friday of Ramadan) event began at Seef Mall in the
north-central part of the island and ended at the Pearl
Roundabout approximately two miles away. A second
demonstration on the island of Muharraq received less
attention.


3. (U) Protesters chanted anti-American and anti-Israeli
slogans while many carried Bahraini and Palestinian flags in
support of the Palestinian cause. Some protesters carried
posters against the U.S. and Israel, including at least one
that said "Israel Must Be Wiped Off The Map," a reference to
Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's recent statements. In
addition, U.S. and Israeli flags were reportedly stepped on
and burned. A group of clerics who spoke during the protest
reportedly urged demonstrators against carrying symbols
unrelated to the Palestinian struggle. Nevertheless, some
marchers carried Hizbollah flags and pictures of the Iranian
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the late Ayatollah
Khomeini. Returning to a familiar theme, radical Sunni
Salafi MP Shaikh Jassim Al Saeedi publicly denounced the use
of Hizbollah flags during the rally.


4. (U) Recent public debate on the formal closure of the
Israel Boycott Office in Bahrain has stirred up public
emotions, although this year's rally was reportedly smaller
than last year's. The rally provided an opportunity to
launch a petition, signed by many of the demonstrators, to
reject the lifting of the boycott. The Al Quds International
Day organizing committee intends to present the petition
directly to the King.


5. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador October 29, Minister
of Interior Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa attributed
the presence of Hizbollah flags and pictures of the
ayatollahs to Ahmadi-Nejad's recent statements about Israel.
He said these symbols were not seen last year. Shaikh Rashid
expressed his concern about the effect Ahmadi-Nejad's
statements may have upon the region and about the direction
Ahmadi-Nejad is taking Iran. He said that the GCC will need
to consider how to counter Ahmadi-Nejad's influence, and that
Shi'a elements in Bahrain will need to be watched more
closely. Shaikh Rashid suspects that Ahmadi-Nejad may be
trying to deflect domestic attention from his own
government's lack of progress.

MONROE