Israel, Bahrain formally establish diplomatic ties

Israel and Bahrain have formally established diplomatic relations after signing the US brokered deal in Arab country's capital Manama.

At a ceremony in Manama last night, Bahraini and Israeli officials signed eight bilateral agreements, including a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic, peaceful, and friendly relations. The two countries are now expected to open embassies.

 

Earlier yesterday, a high-level delegation of American and Israeli officials flew on an Israel Airlines charter flight from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv through Saudi Arabia’s airspace en route to Manama.  US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Israeli Prime Minister’s national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabbat, led the



delegations.

 

Following the signing, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani said, it is indeed an historic visit, to start opening relations between both countries.

 

Bahrain is now the fourth Arab country in the Middle East - after the UAE, Egypt and Jordan - to recognise Israel. Mnuchin and the other US officials will today travel to the UAE, where the accord with Israel has uncorked bilateral commerce. Tomorrow, the US dignitaries will join the UAE’s first delegation to Israel.

 

Israel’s Transportation Ministry said Israel and the UAE will sign a deal tomorrow to allow 28 weekly commercial flights between Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.