Israeli Communications Minister Ayoob Kara was ridiculed on social media on Sunday after claiming he met with a Bahraini prince in Tel Aviv recently.
"I met Mubarak al-Khalifa, prince of Bahrain, in Tel Aviv. This is the first public meeting ever [of Israeli and Bahraini officials], and we discussed ways to bolster ties between the two countries. On Monday, I will also have the honor of hosting him in the Knesset," Kara tweeted.
Kara also posted a picture of himself with a man he said was the prince.
However, social media users were quick to point out that the man does not resemble any of the known members of the al-Khalifa family, which has ruled Bahrain for centuries. At least half the country's serving ministers are from the royal family. The only known Bahraini royal with Mubarak in his name is Sheikh Muhammad bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, the country's deputy prime minister, but he is in his 80s. Crown Prince Salman, the eldest son of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, does not resemble the man in the picture.
Kara's tweet soon became viral, with social media users ridiculing him for believing the man he met was part of the Bahraini royal family. Kara later said he met the man at a private residence in Tel Aviv, at a meeting attended by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
In a similar incident several months ago, when Kara visited Equador, he said he had spoken with Moroccan officials. But it soon turned out they were actually from a disputed area claimed by Morocco.
