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Lapid makes history with Bahrain visit

By Gil Tanenbaum

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid made history on Thursday, Sept. 30, when he became the first Israeli top diplomat to visit Bahrain.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid lands in Manama, Bahrain, Sept. 30, 2021. (Shlomi Amshalem/GPO)

He was received at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Undersecretary for Political Affairs Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahraini Ambassador to Israel Khaled Yousef Al Jalahma, and the Israeli Chargé d’Affairs in Manama Itay Tegner.
“Proud to represent Israel on the first and historic official visit to the Kingdom. Thanks for the warm welcome,” Lapid tweeted after landing.

“Diplomacy and bold statesmanship are creating a better future for our peoples and the region,” said Alon Ushpiz, foreign ministry director-general.

As Lapid’s flight touched down in Bahrain, a Bahraini Gulf Air plane was en route to Israel, where Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll will inaugurate the carrier’s new route to Israel.

Teams from both countries met in Manama and discussed cooperation and ways to make the official peace between the two nations “an active, economic, security, political and civic friendship.”

During the trip, Lapid met with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa, as well as Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa.

At a press conference after his meeting with the king, Lapid praised his host saying, “The king’s leadership and inspiration led to real cooperation and the meeting paves the way for the continuation of the relationship.”

Bahrain’s foreign minister, Abd al-Latif a-Ziani, described today’s meetings between Lapid and his country’s king and heir to the throne as showing that Bahrain desires warm relations with Israel.

The two foreign ministers held a joint press conference where a-Ziani said that Bahrain supports a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict and called for a renewed dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.

Lapid reiterated his own personal support for a two-state solution to the conflict, saying that Israel must find ways to improve the lives of the Palestinians.

Lapid also tweeted a statement on the day’s meetings saying that the global struggle today “isn’t between right and left, or between Judaism and Islam or Christianity. The global struggle today is between moderates and extremists. Between a culture of life and a culture of death and destruction.”

“Together with all our friends in the Gulf,” said Lapid, “we are leading a brave coalition of moderates who are looking forward and creating a prosperous future of stability and tolerance.

“Whoever cooperates will lead both the world and the Middle East.”
Lapid also thanked the King of Bahrain for what he called a warm, historic and hopeful meeting.

“His Majesty’s leadership and inspiration have led to true cooperation and our meeting outlined the path forward for our relationship,” said Lapid.

Later in the day, Foreign Minister Lapid toured a ship from the US Fifth Fleet, which is currently docked in Bahrain. He thanked Admiral Cooper, the fleet’s commander, for “defending the values of freedom and the idea of a free world. When we talk about peace, we must remember that this peace must be protected from anyone who seeks to harm it. Thank you for your firm stance on this important goal.”

The Foreign Ministers of Israel and Bahrain will inaugurate the Israeli Embassy in Manama and sign a series of bilateral agreements. The Israeli embassy in Manama, Bahrain, has been active since January.

Khaled Yousef al-Jalahmah, the Ambassador of Bahrain to Israel, submitted his credentials to President Isaac Herzog earlier this month on the eve of the first anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords, the normalization of relations between Bahrain and Israel.

Lapid traveled to the UAE in June, his first official visit abroad and the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister to the Gulf country. He traveled to Morocco in August.

The UAE, and Bahrain shortly after it, announced in August, 2020 the normalization of relations with Israel.

The Abraham Accords, brokered by President Donald Trump, were signed between the three countries on September 15, 2020 on the White House lawns.

It was the first pact between an Arab country and Israel in 25 years.

Shortly after, Sudan in October, 2020, announced the normalization of relations with Israel, followed by Morocco in December, 2020.



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