Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett landed in the Gulf state of Bahrain on Monday, cementing ties between the new allies in a clear message of cooperation aimed at regional archrival Iran.
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Bennett's trip to the Gulf is the first public visit by an Israeli prime minister to Bahrain and comes less than two weeks after the countries signed a defense agreement with an eye on rising tensions in the Gulf. The visit also comes as nuclear talks between world powers and Iran are dragging on in Vienna.
Israel has stepped up cooperation with the Gulf states. Manama hosted Israel's defense minister on Feb. 2 and has said an Israeli military officer will be posted in Bahrain as part of an international coalition.
Israel and Bahrain agreed to normalize ties in 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords, which also saw Israel establish relations with the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan. Bennett traveled to the UAE late last year.
Video: GPO, Reuters
Speaking to reporters before departing Israel, Bennett said he would meet with Bahrain's king, crown prince, and others "to fill with energy and content the peace agreements between the two nations."
"I think especially in these tumultuous times, it is important that from this region we send the message of goodwill, of cooperation, of standing together against common challenges and of building bridges to the future," he said.
Bennett was greeted in Bahrain by an honor guard and the country's Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani.
Overshadowing Bennett's trip to Bahrain are rising regional tensions. The US and Israel have accused Iran of attacking commercial shipping in the Gulf, and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have recently launched missile strikes against the UAE. Israel has stepped up its naval presence in the Red Sea, a critical artery for world trade and Israeli strategic interests.
Israel, along with its new Gulf allies, is watching closely as diplomats from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, and Russia are currently negotiating with Iran in the Austrian capital over its nuclear program. American diplomats are indirectly involved in the talks.
In a special interview with Al Ayam, an Arabic daily Based in Manama, Bennett said that "any compromise on a nuclear deal with Iran would be a strategic mistake. Iran is pursuing the destruction of the moderate [Arab] countries, which it seeks to replace with terrorist organizations."
Touching on the fact that he is the first Israeli prime minister to visit the Gulf kingdom, Bennett expressed appreciation to Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for extending the invitation and lauded "the king's brave leadership, which enabled us to forge [diplomatic] relations as part of the Abraham Accords. Israel strives for a warm peace with Bahrain, one that would benefit both nations.
"I see Israel and Bahrain as close partners in all areas. The cooperation between us is natural. I expect trade between us to increase significantly, as it has grown, for example, with the UAE," Bennett told the daily. "I expect the volume of tourism to increase, of course after the coronavirus [pandemic] passes, and most importantly, I aspire for the two peoples to get to know each other better, through delegation visits, joint cultural activities, etc. We want a very warm peace with Bahrain."
The prime minister also commented on the defense agreement signed between the two countries earlier this month, saying, "Israel and Bahrain face major security challenges, stemming from the same source – the Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermines stability in the whole region. It supports terrorist organizations operating in your area and ours, with one goal – to destroy the moderate countries, which care about their people, stability, and peace, and replace them with bloodthirsty terrorist organizations.
"We will not allow this. We are fighting Iran and its proxies in the region every day, and we will help our friends strengthen their peace, security, and stability as much as we can."
Bahrain and the UAE have long nurtured clandestine security cooperation with Israel over their mutual enmity for Iran. Since establishing formal ties in September 2020, Israel and Bahrain have opened embassies, signed trade agreements, and earlier this month signed a defense deal during a visit by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Bahrain also hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
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