Bahrain’s Jewish envoy to Washington stays mum
Houda Ezra Nonoo is a Bahraini of Iraqi descent representing an embattled Sunni dynasty that has ruled over a Shi’ite majority for centuries.
If those circumstances weren’t loaded enough, Nonoo, Bahrain’s envoy to Washington, is the first Jewish ambassador in the Arab world’s recorded history.
Street protests have shaken the tiny island kingdom for the past week, with at least eight Bahrainis killed and hundreds wounded.
Tensions remain high after seesaw battles saw riot police open fire on protesters trying to reclaim Manama’s landmark Pearl Square, and on Monday, a group of protesters called for the ouster of the monarchy as part of sweeping demands in response to the call to end the uprising.
Bahrain is a key US partner in the region, the home base for the US Navy’s massive 5th Fleet. Washington is, without question, Bahrain’s most important ally. But throughout the popular revolt that has gripped her country, Nonoo has stayed mum. Phone and e-mail requests for comment by The Jerusalem Post to the Bahraini Embassy in Washington on Monday went unanswered.