The Turkish Foreign Ministry, in a press release on Saturday, strongly condemned Bahrain's decision to establish diplomatic relations with Israel and expressed concern for that, considering it a blow to efforts to defend the Palestinian cause.

"The decision of the Kingdom of Bahrain to follow the United Arab Emirates by establishing diplomatic relations with Israel comes in contravention of its commitments under the Arab Peace Initiative and within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation," said the ministry in its press release.

"This step would deal yet another blow to the efforts to defend the Palestinian cause and would further embolden Israel to continue its illegal acts and attempts to perpetuate the occupation of the Palestinian territories," it added.

The ministry emphasized that "lasting peace and stability in the Middle East can only be achieved through a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue in accordance with international law and UN resolutions. Irresponsible concessions made on the basis of narrowly-defined interests and upon pressure and coercion from external actors cannot erase or substitute for this reality."