US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1585

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