Israel has inaugurated a new embassy in Bahrain and pledged to enhance trade ties during the foreign minister’s inaugural visit to one of the Gulf Arab nations that recently established relations with Israel.
The two foreign ministers, from Israel and Bahrain, have agreed to collaborate on expanding direct flights, tourism, trade volume, and investment between their countries. This event marks the replacement of Israel’s first embassy in Bahrain, which was established in 2021 as part of the United States-brokered Abraham Accords, where Israel also formed diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
The ceremony, attended by Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, emphasized the significant role the new embassy will play in fostering cooperation between the two nations. Talks between the foreign ministers resulted in an agreement to advance relations in various areas, including economics, investments, trade, and more.
The Israeli foreign minister, accompanied by a delegation of over 30 companies specializing in high-tech, logistics, and real estate, met with Bahrain’s Crown Prince to discuss the importance of a free trade agreement and initiatives connecting Israeli and Bahraini youth. The foreign minister expressed eagerness to expand the circle of peace and normalization to other states in the region.
Despite ongoing diplomatic relations, Bahrain and the UAE, along with other Gulf Arab states, have expressed criticism of Israel for its actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. However, Israel’s foreign minister’s visit coincides with speculation about a potential normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which is not part of the Abraham Accords. Talks between Riyadh and Washington regarding Saudi conditions for progressing with normalization have been reported.
The Israeli foreign minister hinted at the interest of more Arab and Muslim countries in joining the peace efforts, although he did not specify which ones. It’s worth noting that his recent secret meeting with the Libyan counterpart in Rome sparked controversy, leading to protests in Libya and internal criticism within Israel for disclosing sensitive details of the meeting.
