Bahrain Appoints First Jewish Ambassador to U.S.

Manama, Bahrain (AHN) - In an unprecedented move, Bahrain has appointed a Jewish woman as ambassador to the United States.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Thursday appointed Huda Ibrhaim Nonoo as ambassador, according to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA). This is the first time in the Arab world and Middle East that a woman has been appointed as an envoy to the U.S.

Nonoo confirmed her appointment in an interview with AHN. "I am excited to be appointed as the first female ambassador to the U.S. I am going to take up key humanitarian issues and the entire community is delighted after the decision. I don't think religion played a part, as I am a Bahraini."

The appointment puts Bahrain ahead of other countries in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Nonoo is a member of parliament and belongs to a small Jewish community here.

She is the third woman ambassador after Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa, who was ambassador to France from 2000 to 2004, and Bibi Al Alawi, who is the current ambassador to China.

AHN first reported the appointment when talks in the political circles were rife. The current ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Naser M. Y. Al Belooshi was appointed as an envoy in August 2005.

Nonoo is a Shura (Consultative) Council member, which presently includes a Christian and 10 women appointed by King Hamad. The King issued a royal order on Thursday appointing Abdul Ghaffar Abdul Hussain Abdulla to replace Nonoo on the Council.

The new ambassador comes from a family considered actively engaged and well integrated in business and financial activities. She is the co-founder and general secretary of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society.

Her friend and colleague, Faisal Fulad, regional and International director of BHRWS told AHN, "I am proud of the wise decision by the King to appoint Huda, who deserves it for her immense hard work. This is a sign that minorities, especially Jews, are integral part of the country. She is smart and intelligent like her father and has worked in human rights for several years."

The decision comes at a time when Bahraini authorities are planning to grant full citizenship rights to Jewish returnees, according to local reports. As part of the plan, only those who were residing in Bahrain and are of Arab or Iraqi roots who migrated from another country will be granted citizenship.

About 40 Jews live in Bahrain. They have a synagogue and a cemetery in the capital, Manama.