[ad_1]
MANAMA, Bahrain — President Isaac Herzog headed for Bahrain Sunday morning, kicking off a two-day go to to Israel’s allies within the Persian Gulf area by assembly Bahrain’s king and international minister.
The journey is the primary by an Israeli president to the island kingdom, and can be adopted by a go to to the United Arab Emirates — each of which established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020.
Forward of his departure, Herzog stated the journey was “predominantly a message of peace within the area.”
“One other historic step within the relationship between Israel and Arab states that signed the Abraham Accords, with the hope that increasingly more international locations will be capable to be part of the circle of peace with the State of Israel,” Herzog stated, in English.
Upon touchdown in Manama, Herzog and his spouse Michal had been welcomed by Bahrain’s International Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani and Bahrain’s envoy to Israel Khaled Yousif Al-Jalahma.
He then sat down for a gathering with Al-Zayani.
President Isaac Herzog forward of his go to to Bahrain, December 4, 2022 (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)
Herzog then headed to Al-Qudaibiya Palace, the place he was acquired by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
A navy band performed the nationwide anthems of the 2 international locations earlier than the 2 leaders entered the palace.
King Hamad welcomed Herzog in Arabic, stressing Bahrain’s “agency place in assist of attaining a simply, complete, and sustainable peace that ensures the professional rights of the Palestinian folks.”
Herzog opened his assertion in Arabic, telling King Hamad: “My pal, Your Majesty, I thanks for internet hosting me as the primary Israeli president to go to the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
Within the afternoon, Herzog is slated to fulfill with members of the native Jewish neighborhood, then will head to a gathering with the Bahrain Financial Growth Board.
On Monday, the president will take off for Abu Dhabi to fulfill along with his Emirati counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi ruler recognized colloquially as MBZ. Herzog will even attend the Abu Dhabi Area Debate, a discussion board on area exploration coverage that will even function Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa through the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 21, 2016. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
Representatives from Israel’s Innovation Authority, Begin-Up Nation Central, the Israel Export Institute, and different commerce officers are accompanying the president on the journey.
The go to takes place because the Gulf has seen current shows of anti-Israel sentiment, cracking the façade of widespread backing for normalization in each Bahrain and the UAE. Opposition to official authorities coverage is uncommon in each international locations run by authoritarian regimes, however assist for the Abraham Accords has been declining in each locations.
Forward of Herzog’s go to on Friday, protesters in Bahrain chanted “loss of life to Israel” at rallies in opposition to the upcoming journey. The protesters had been affiliated with opposition teams which are supportive of Iran, the Ynet information web site reported.
Some carried indicators with Herzog’s picture that stated “prison” and “you aren’t welcome in Bahrain.”
Native authorities allowed the anti-Israel protests to happen, however won’t allow comparable occasions throughout Herzog’s go to, the report stated.
A Bahraini opposition outlet stated the demonstrators burned an Israeli flag and squared off with riot police.
A Thursday report from Israel’s Channel 12 stated the Shin Guess had determined to spice up Herzog’s safety element for the journey following a web-based social media marketing campaign from Bahraini opposition activists.
One of many activist posts in opposition to Herzog stated, “All normalization is an act of treason. Don’t come.”
In Qatar, which is internet hosting the World Cup, some Israeli guests to the nation for the match have been harassed and accosted by locals and others.
Israel normalized ties with the UAE and Bahrain in 2020 as a part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords. The settlement paved the best way for normalization with Morocco months later.
President Isaac Herzog inspects an honor guard with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, January 30, 2022. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
In January, Herzog visited the UAE’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai in a two-day journey.
Final month, presumptive incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a cellphone name with Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The pair shared their need to proceed to deepen relations between the 2 international locations, and Netanyahu invited Al Khalifa to go to Israel.
In October, a delegation of Israeli paratroopers held a joint bounce over Bahrain, alongside troopers from the Gulf nation, the UAE, and america to mark two years because the signing of the Abraham Accords.
[ad_2]
Source link
