Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa took to Twitter on Wednesday to say that what is happening in Jerusalem is a “side issue” compared to the fight against fascist Iran.
It’s not helpful to pick a fight with the USA over side issues while we together fight the clear and present danger of The Theo-Fascist Islamic republic
— خالد بن أحمد (@khalidalkhalifa) December 20, 2017
The minister’s remark provoked angry reactions as it was made ahead of the United Nations vote on a draft resolution rejecting the US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
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The Bahraini minister’s comments were described as disrespectful and a betrayal of what is happening in Jerusalem.
Earlier in September Bahraini King Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa condemned the boycott of Israel and in December an official delegation from the “This is Bahrain” organisation visited Israel. Bahrain and Israel are in agreement that Iran is a threat to security.
![Image of Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa on 17 April 2016 [U.S. Department of State/Flickr]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2016_4_17-Bahraini-Foreign-Minister-Sheikh-Khalid-bin-Ahmed-al-Khalifa.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)