Algerian party leader lashes at unnamed 'Gulf state' for sowing discord and pushing Israeli normalisation agenda

Abdelkader Bengrina, an Algerian political leader in the government coalition, accused an unnamed "Gulf state" of being behind the region's conflicts and "blackmailing" Arab states to normalise ties with Israel.

"Wherever this functional entity goes in any region, it creates tensions for the Algerian state, whether it's through its movements inside Morocco, Niger and Mali, or the chaos that is taking place in Libya, or the ominous movements, as I said earlier, in Tunisia," the head of Algeria's National Construction Movement told reporters on Saturday, 19 August. 

Bengrina's statement reiterated last week's speech on the sidelines of the National Symposium for Future Cohesion and Security.

At the symposium, in which various political leaders discussed the recent coup in Niger, Bengrina warned that this "Khaleji entity" is dragging Tunisia to normalise ties with Israel. "It (Tunisia's normalisation with Israel) may be very soon, and I mean what I say."

Without naming the Gulf state, he accused it of "sowing discord and division in the region", including disputes in the Gulf Cooperation Council and worsening the Yemen crisis.

Over the weekend, the 61-year-old politician, who maintains good terms with President Tebboune, clarified his controversial statements on Tunisia's "soon-to-happen normalisation."

"This entity target countries in economic crises. And we were afraid when we saw them visiting Tunisia," Bengrina told local media. "But we know President Saied will never allow that (normalisation)."

The politician's statements could refer to the recent visit of the Emirati Minister of State, Sheikh Shakhbout Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, to Tunisia and met with President Kais Saied. Several articles and reports on the politicians assumed that Bengrina was hinting at the UAE, but he has never confirmed this information.

Tunisia and the Gulf states have yet to address Bengrina's accusations.

Reports on a potential normalisation deal between Tunisia and Israel have been circulating since last year, with several Algerian officials warning of a possible deal.

"If this normalisation happened, all the Algerian borders will be in danger," Bengrina argued.

President Kais Saied rejected any normalisation with Israel in May and called on the international community to end the Palestinian people's tragedy.