(IsraelNN.com) The Bahraini Minister of Finance, Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, has informed the American trade representative in the monarchy that his country is planning to lift its boycott of trade with Israel. The move is seen as part of US demands ahead of establishing a free-trade agreement between the US and Bahrain.



"Bahrain recognizes the need to withdraw the primary boycott against Israel and is developing the means to achieve this," Al-Khalifa stated in the message to the US delegate.



An Israeli foreign ministry official said that Israel was informed of the move by American sources. "We have not received anything from the Bahrainis," the official said.